i base my life on his teachings
Those of you who saw me opening for Candye (Kane) might recall that I opened my set with this song.
Mose Allison was the guy who -- more than any other single figure -- brought jazz into the picture for me. As a teenager, he became the guy whose ability to mix Hank Williams and Percy Mayfield with Monk and Errol Garner gave me some context for what I loved and how I loved it. And after spending a couple weeks talking to blues fans and realizing he's not as well-known in that world as I'd have hoped he'd be, I figured I'd give the major shout out.
Mose is 82 (he shares a birthday with Dave Alvin, 11/11) and is still playing and singing on a high level. He just put out a new record, produced by Joe Henry, and I don't really think it makes much difference, because Mose is Mose no matter how he is produced. He's himself, and his body of work is one of the most honest, organic, and perfect of anyone I can name. Right up there with Willie Nelson and Taj Mahal.
If you know about Mose, you know what this clip will be. If you don't... Well, you will.
Labels: Imose allison
posted by skip heller @ 12:12 AM
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