MOSE ALLISON - Complete 1957-1962 Vocal Sides
ESSENTIAL JAZZ CLASSICS EJC 55718
Mose Allison (v/p), Addison Farmer, Henry Grimes, Bill Crow, Aaron Bell Taylor Lafargue (b), Nick Stabulas, Ronnie Free, Jerry Segal, Paul Motion, Gus Johnson, Osie Johnson, Frankie Dunlop (d), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Jim Reider (ts)
NYC 1957-1962
A collection of all Allison’s vocal tracks, culled from several of his LPs seems like a very good idea. A unique stylist with his own, authentic sounding take on the blues, he sails through 20 tracks on disc 1 and 17 on CD 2 and there is a bonus of three instrumental pieces at the end of the second record. All of his popular pieces are, of course included here with Parchman Farm, The Seventh Son, Young man’s Blues and V-8 Ford Blues taking pride of place. Allison was also a first class bop pianist and spent some of his early recording days playing keyboard for the likes of Art Farmer. Al Cohn and Stan Getz. He always used first class bass players and drummers on his trio dates and there is strong support throughout these CDs from Addison Farmer, his regular bass player, Aaron Bell and the drummers Jerry Segal and the two Johnsons.
Because he was an original with his own sound as a vocalist I think it was often overlooked that he was such a good jazz pianist. That omission should be addressed with this comprehensive release. Listen to his inventive piano on such tracks as One Room Country Shack and, of course that hymn to the American penal system Parchman Farm with its bluesy chords and tongue in cheek lyrics. In fact, listen to all these tracks carefully as they are deceptively simple but contain a wealth of good jazz and blues. Five star stuff this!
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
ESSENTIAL JAZZ CLASSICS EJC 55718
Mose Allison (v/p), Addison Farmer, Henry Grimes, Bill Crow, Aaron Bell Taylor Lafargue (b), Nick Stabulas, Ronnie Free, Jerry Segal, Paul Motion, Gus Johnson, Osie Johnson, Frankie Dunlop (d), Jimmy Knepper (tb), Jim Reider (ts)
NYC 1957-1962
A collection of all Allison’s vocal tracks, culled from several of his LPs seems like a very good idea. A unique stylist with his own, authentic sounding take on the blues, he sails through 20 tracks on disc 1 and 17 on CD 2 and there is a bonus of three instrumental pieces at the end of the second record. All of his popular pieces are, of course included here with Parchman Farm, The Seventh Son, Young man’s Blues and V-8 Ford Blues taking pride of place. Allison was also a first class bop pianist and spent some of his early recording days playing keyboard for the likes of Art Farmer. Al Cohn and Stan Getz. He always used first class bass players and drummers on his trio dates and there is strong support throughout these CDs from Addison Farmer, his regular bass player, Aaron Bell and the drummers Jerry Segal and the two Johnsons.
Because he was an original with his own sound as a vocalist I think it was often overlooked that he was such a good jazz pianist. That omission should be addressed with this comprehensive release. Listen to his inventive piano on such tracks as One Room Country Shack and, of course that hymn to the American penal system Parchman Farm with its bluesy chords and tongue in cheek lyrics. In fact, listen to all these tracks carefully as they are deceptively simple but contain a wealth of good jazz and blues. Five star stuff this!
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
