Mose Allison: Cool Blues

Young Man's Blues - Mose Allison
from Back Country Suite on Prestige (1957).

Parchman Farm - Mose Allison
from Local Color on Prestige (1957).

Your Mind Is On Vacation - Mose Allison
from I Don't Worry About A Thing on Atlantic (1962).

All of the above also available on Allison Wonderland: The Mose Allison Anthology on Rhino (1994).

Much like the way Nina Simone performed in all kinds of styles (Broadway, soul, gospel, jazz, etc.) but always made everything her own and deeply soulful, Mose Allison is difficult to classify in a particular genre (boogie, Blues, bop jazz, western) but is always undeniably Cool with a capital Cee. Three short, famous tracks by this artist today to hip your mood.

"Young Man's Blues" is definitive piano blues with the light drum and bass backing Mose used predominantly throughout his career. This is from his first album, and is actually a section of the multi-part "Back Country Suite." Allison's voice is smooth and never hurried even as fingers are flying around the keyboard.

"Parchman Farm" is also from a 1957 session and featured on his second album with Prestige. While the vocals are all blues about life in a prison work detail, the instrumental is a swinging boogie style that provides heightened tension and gathering speed throughout. The bridge between the two movements always gets my legs bouncing and head nodding. Nice M. Night Shamalanadingdong twist ending as well.

Finally, "Your Mind Is On Vacation" showcases Allison's witty writing over a lazy boogie piano and walking bass. If silence was golden / you couldn't raise a dime. Early example of punchline battle lyrics I guess. Allison has stated this track was a put down to mouthy know it alls, but also admitted it was definitely a self-indictment as well. We hear at Ear Fuzz may be mouthy know it alls, but we'll take clues from Mose and keep it cool and fun.

Lots more Mose information can be found at his website including current tour dates. I've locked up some tickets for his visit to Berkeley, CA, and am already looking forward to it.