Customer Reviews

Mose Chronicles: Live in London 1

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In response to the reviewer who expressed dislike for the similarity of the songs: With a live trio format, you get to hear the style of the players. The keys in which the songs are played are the choice of the vocalist. In this case, you're hearing the style of Mose. This is how he plays, and this is what it sounds like. As to the repertoire, the question for me is not: why did he pick these songs that sound alike? Rather, the question is: Is this what a writer and player like Mose wants to play for a live set when he's on the road in his 70's?
The answer: Yep. The man plays what he wants to. That's his red wagon, and I'm glad to hear what he has to say.

There's no denying that this is another strong performance by Mose Allison, but..... My reservations have nothing to do with the Mose's performance of the material that he's chosen, nor of the other two players Roy Babbington on Bass and and Mark Taylor on Drums, who are as tight and supportive as any group that plays together so much ought to be. My reservations are about the choice of material which delves deep into his huge repetoire, but at times comes across in the programming as very "samey". Quite a lot of the tunes are played at a similar tempo, which over 22 tracks tends to grate. The other criticism that I have, having been to a number of the Pizza Express shows in London, is that there is altogether too few of the asides and stories that Mose interjects, which makes the live performances so vibrant. Here, Ben Sidran the producer has chosen to limit this to the odd "this was written by", rather than attempting to make it really representative of the delightful nature of the intimate shows that he hosts at the venue.Perhaps any volume 2 will rectify this. Live and a great performance...but!

Through decades, wives, Vietnam, 12 steps, and all, Mose Allison has been the one constant in my life. And this recording, produced by Ben Sidran, is warm and close. This is a trio setting, with an appreciative audience. Really, it's like they've never heard the lyric before and laugh at the appropriate spots. Not at all a sit-on-your-hands kind of show. It's a great trio, and Mose is on his game, as the very professional musician he is. A really rare collection from a unique writer and player. Great. Just great.

Mose Allison is best known as the writer of some classic songs, here perhaps best represented by "Everybody's Crying Mercy" "Seventh Son" and "I Love the Life I live". These have been covered by a huge range of artists such as as Georgie Fame (who sites Allison as a major influence) and Van Morrison.

Here he is playing in a Jazz trio. Most people know that he plays the Piano, but perhaps don't realise what a brilliant Pianist he is. You'll soon find out though because the first track is an instrumental lasting around 7 minutes. His solos are completely unique - I've never heard anybody else play like this. The songs of course are all brilliantly sung in his usual sardonic style.

These recordings were made at the Pizza Express in london in 2000. He well supported by Mark Taylor on drums and Roy Babbington on bass.

This is a great CD. My older brother introduced me to Mose Allison and this CD is the only Mose Allison that I have at the moment.

I enjoy jazz piano and Mose has certainly got a unique style. I have never heard anything like it. He runs up and down the keys in a manner I have never heard any other piano player do before. He is jazzy and bluesy. He obviously writes much of his own material. His singing voice is stylistic. A Mario Lanza or Tony Bennett he is not. But he could easily hang out with Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante or Randy Newman.

I love the song selection on this CD. Mose is obviously somewhat of the piano-bar philosopher and social, lyrical humorist. "No Trouble Livin'" I must presume is a Mose classic. He has no trouble livin', it's dying that bothers him ... great. "Meet me at no special place - and at no particular time" is a great way to send off a dead relationship. I couldn't have said it better. You have to love it. "Everybody is crying Mercy" and "Ever since the world ended" great social commentary."You call it Jogging - but I call it fooling around" more Mose humor.

If you are into "different" Mose Allison is your man. The fact that he is still doing this and into his seventies is surly and inspiration to all of us. Get this one; it's fun.