Beyond Cool (1993)

Gewezen wonderkind Lucky Peterson, bekwaam op zowel gitaar, orgel als piano, kreeg in de jaren ene 'major record deal', met de consequentie dat hij zijn muziek op een zo breed mogelijk publiek moest richten. Soms werkt dat, soms wat minder... "Multi-instrumentalist Lucky Peterson ambitiously embraces a myriad of blues-related musical styles on this funk-powered disc and emerges with mixed results. Peterson's originals are among the set's bluesiest and most satisfying: "I'm Talking To You" and "Pouring Money On A Drowning Love Affair" showcase his fluid piano style and energetic vocals, while he ladles out hot guitar licks on "You Can't Fool Me" and the downbeat title instrumental. His cover choices are mostly baffling-a remake of Robert Ward's devotional "Your Love Is Amazing" is attractive, but a lukewarm "Compared to What" makes one yearn for Les McCann's forceful vocal delivery, and Peterson's slavish Stevie Wonder imitation on "You Haven't Done Nothin' " is annoying." (Bill Dahl, Chicago Tribune)