Mose Allison
is an icon. He is said to have been British rock's most influential jazz
musician (Time Out London). He inspired Pete Townshend, The Rolling Stones,
Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits. His own songs have been covered by Diana Krall, Elvis
Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Van Morrison, John Mayall, The Who, The
Clash, Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds, to name a few. He was honored as a NEA
Jazz Master in 2013, which is the United States' highest honor in jazz as well
as being honored by the National Endowment for the Arts. He has made more than
40 recordings and was nominated for Grammys® in 1983, 1988 and 2001.
On Mose
Allison American Legend, Live in California, Allison teamed up with a veteran
trio of longtime drummer Pete Magadini and bassist Bill Douglass. With this
team of great musicians, Allison was able to recreate the intimate sessions
that he had been renowned for throughout his entire career. Live in California
captures the true atmosphere of what made Allison such an influential musician
and performer. Even at 79, Allison is able to a give an inspired and
enthralling performance that matches the energy of the audience at 19 Broadway.
Magadini states, "You will hear that the audience in the room is totally
into Mose and the trio. This phenomenon would almost always happen when we performed
in clubs but the music never left the room. Now it has and it's been captured
and perserved in this live recording."
Allison and
his trio performs some of his most cherished works including "Everybody's
Cryin' Mercy," "Your Mind is on Vacation," "I Don't Want
Much," "Ever Since the World Ended," and "City Home."
In all, there are 12 original classic Mose Allison songs as well as some of
Allison's favorite standards including songs by Percy Mayfield, Duke Ellington,
Big Joe Williams and John D. Loudermilk. All were played and recorded in the
intimacy of a very soulful nightclub in front of an equally impassioned
audience.
Mose toured
jazz festivals and the most renowned stages throughout his life. For the most
part Allison never recorded much while playing "live" in clubs. Many
of his best performances stayed in those rooms and devoted audiences were left
with preserving their experience to memory. This recording now brings the live
aspect of Allison to the forefront and encapsulates his career and love of
performing. Although Allison has since retired, this recording is a snapshot in
history and is a rare gem for his fans and all blues-jazz lovers.
Mose Allison
was born in 1927 in Tippo, part of the famous Mississippi Delta that has
produced some of the best blues artists. His art has combined these deep blues
roots with sophisticated jazz and inspired lyrics. This unique sound rooted in
various styles has made Allison a versatile and inspiring performer and when he
arrived in New York in 1956 he was able to play piano for significant artists
including Al Cohn, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims and more.
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