For anyone who is yet to discover the singular stylings of the late, lamented Mose Allison, this Essential Jazz Classics twofer is as good a place to start as any. While the great pianist, singer, songwriter and NEA Jazz Master, who passed away in November last year at the age of 89, retired from live performance in 2012 after 65 years of touring, the number of excellent reissues continues to grow. Highlights include Allison's world-weary take on the Percy Mayfield blues ballad ‘Lost Mind’ (“If you would be so kind to help me find my mind, I want to thank you in advance”), fine interpretations of ‘Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me’, ‘Don't Get Around Much Anymore’ and ‘I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues’ (no surprise that Ellington was one of Allison's most important touchstones), plus Willie Dixon's ‘The Seventh Son’ and ‘I Love The Life I Live’. Self-penned Allison classics, for which he will forever be remembered, include ‘Stop This World’, ‘Parchman Farm’ and the quintessential ‘Your Mind Is On Vacation’.