Double Dealin'

Lucky Peterson's Blue Thumb debut is a collection of powerful R&B/blues tunes. Backed by a seasoned group of players, including Jon Cleary, Tony Braunagel, and the Texicali Horns, Peterson handles vocals, lead guitar, and Hammond B-3 organ. He's a superb musician and a stirring singer who brings an Albert Collins-like fire to his work. He has also written three of the tunes on the CD, including "4 Little Boys," a touching slow blues based on a true story, and the bitter tale "When My Blood Runs Cold." These tracks show evidence of Chicago, Texas, and Memphis influences, fused by Peterson's dramatic performance style into a sortie that satisfies the craving for gut-check blues -- along with the need to bring new material to the genre. Peterson has been cutting tracks for 16 years; this record weds the vitality of his late-'80s, early-'90s Alligator period with a mature, self-possessed musicianship.