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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPERKINS, Carl (jazz pianist)(b 16 August 1928, Indianapolis IN; d 17 March 1958) Very fine and influential West Coast modern jazz pianist, whose short life was cursed with narcotics. His left hand was slightly handicapped by polio, which perhaps led to more blues inflection than in the work of e.g. Hampton Hawes. He played with Tiny Bradshaw, Big Jay McNeely; settled on West Coast, played with an early edition of Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet, was a key member of the Curtis Counce quintet; played and recorded with Harold Land, Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, others. His own albums were too few: Savoy tracks '49, Introducing Carl Perkins '56 on DooTone (later on Fresh Sound) with Leroy Vinnegar, Lawrence Marable on drums (another album may have been recorded and not released, but there is also a Memorial CD on Fresh Sound). A Pacific Jazz LP '57 with Hall and bassist Red Mitchell had a drummer later dubbed on some tracks. His tune 'Grooveyard' from a '58 Land LP became a standard; 'Carl's Blues' (title track of a Counce LP) may have been borrowed by André Previn for 'Like Young'. |