Mose Allison: Swingin' Machine
Author: Peter Quinn
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Jimmy Reider (ts) |
Label: |
Warner Atlantic |
Magazine Review Date: |
July/2014 |
Catalogue Number: |
8122-79599-9 |
RecordDate: |
1962 |
Middle Class White Boy
Musicians: |
Ron Powell (perc) |
Label: |
Warner Atlantic |
Magazine Review Date: |
July/2014 |
Catalogue Number: |
8122-79600-9 |
RecordDate: |
2-3 February 1982 |
Having retired from live performance in 2012 after 65 years of touring, this brace of reissues from NEA Jazz Master Mose John Allison, Jr – one of the music's singular stylists – is welcome indeed. Dividing equally between vocals and instrumentals, the eight-track Swingin' Machine is an especially fine album which sees the Mississippi pianist, vocalist and composer expanding his customary trio setting with the addition of trombonist Jimmy Knepper and tenor saxist Jimmy Reider. In addition to Duke Ellington's ‘I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues’, the album also features the Allison classic ‘Stop This World’. While the slightly dated sounding Yamaha electric piano may not be to everyone's taste (it features on 8 of 11 tracks), there are still some terrific things on the 1982 ‘comeback’ album Middle Class White Boy. From Muddy Waters' iconic ‘Rollin' Stone’ – a tune which Allison hadn't actually planned to record – to the customary Ellington number (‘I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So’) to quintessential originals such as album opener ‘How Does It Feel? (To Be Good Looking), Allison is on top form throughout.

Jazzwise Full Club
- Latest print and digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums throughout the year
- Reviews Database access
From £9.08 / month
Subscribe
Jazzwise Digital Club
- Latest digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
- Reviews Database access