From six strings to 88 keys

 By Henry Lipput

The guitar, whether acoustic or electric, has been the instrument Peter Case has been most associated with from his time with The Nerves in the ‘70s, The Plimsouls in the ‘80s, and the solo career that begun with his self-titled first solo album in 1986. So it may be surprising he’s turned to piano on Doctor Moan (Sunset Blvd Records), his first album of original songs in seven years.

When touring stopped during the pandemic Case had some time on his hands and he used that time (and his hands) to start playing the piano in his living room until the songs for Doctor Moan began to appear. It also helped that since moving back to San Francisco, he began attending the St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church and, playing there with the ensemble, greatly increased his strength as a piano player. In addition to Case on piano, harmonica, mellotron, and guitar, Doctor Moan has Jonny Flaugher on electric and acoustic bass, and Chris Joyner on B-3 organ.

All of the songs on Doctor Moan have a bluesy or boogie-woogie feel and a dark tinge. For example, the rumble of the keys on the opening track “Have You Ever Been In Trouble,” is not something you’d want to be listening to with your earbuds on a dark street in the middle of the night. Even hearing it on speakers you may be liable to occasionally take a look behind you to make sure you’re alone. The barrelhouse “Downtown Nowhere’s Blues” is a Broadway star turn and could be from an updated version of West Side Story. And although it’s not "Rhapsody In Blue" it certainly has some of the feel of that famous piece without lifting any of it.

“Wandering Days” has Case back on guitar in a song about the life of a sailor; the change in instruments allows the tune to breath and support the tale of the open seas. “Girl In Love With A Shadow” also slows things down a bit. It’s a sad story of the search for someone after an initial hookup and one of the highlights of the album.