The Mose Chronicles: Live in London, Vol. 1 [LIVE]

Mose Allison

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000056BAE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #135,925 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On this first volume of The Mose Chronicles, singer-songwriter and pianist Mose Allison brings his idiosyncratic brand of southern comfort to London for this well-cheered live session. Flanked by a crowd that wholeheartedly embraces both his sardonic drollery and the supple rhythm section of bassist Roy Babbington and drummer Mark Taylor, Allison is in top form in this enthralling program that's characteristically wry and full of sharp wisdom. Mose is always divinely swinging, too, leveraging the hundreds of gigs he's played with this trio. Plain-folk advice marks the jumping "No Trouble Livin'," just as poetic social commentary rivets the sly "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" and the joyfully apocalyptic "Ever Since the World Ended." Straight-ahead balladry comes to the fore on "Meet Me at No Special Place," an early favorite of Nat King Cole's trio. Allison's punchy piano style is as effervescent throughout the Chronicles as his singing is backwoods, and it makes for great listening. --John Murph

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addendum to my review, December 29, 2001

By	W. Fulton "Jazz lover!" (Kalamazoo MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Live, and a great performance.....but!!!, March 14, 2001

By	Dr.D.Treharne (Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You might be surprised, September 22, 2007

By	S J Buck (Kent, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.