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Mose Allison - The Mose Chronicles: Live in London, Vol. 1 Audio CD

A fair review of the Mose Allison "The Mose Chronicles: Live in London, Vol. 1" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Mose Allison reviews here, or go back to the Mose Allison tabs.

Mose Allison Band: Mose Allison
Title: The Mose Chronicles: Live in London, Vol. 1
Rating:
Release Date: 2001-03-13
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Excursion and Interlude 2: No Trouble Livin' 3: I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues 4: Everybody's Cryin' Mercy 5: Meet Me at No Special Place 6: If You Only Knew 7: Middle Class White Boy 8: You Are My Sunshine 9: What's Your Movie 10: How Much Truth 11: Ever Since the World Ended 12: You Call It Joggin' 13: Trouble in Mind 14: I'm Not Talking 15: I Feel So Good 16: Since I Fell for You 17: Seventh Son 18: Hello There, Universe 19: What Do You Do After You Ruin Your Life 20: Gettin' There 21: I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love 22: Finale

You might be surprised
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. 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".

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. .


Addendum to my review
The keys in which the songs are played are the choice of the vocalist. 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. 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.


Intimate, intelligent. The best Mose.
And this recording, produced by Ben Sidran, is warm and close. Through decades, wives, Vietnam, 12 steps, and all, Mose Allison has been the one constant in my life. 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.


Live, and a great performance.....but!!!
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!.


You can see a complete list of all Mose Allison discography, or go back to the Mose Allison tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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