'When the planet hit the sun. I saw the face of Allison'
It's a heatwave across Europe. In Denmark where I've just returned from. In Germany, where I'm teaching online. In Newcastle where I am now. What to do. Twist my hands and bemoan my and the planet's fate. Or throw open the windows, heat up some jacket potatoes and put on a Mose Allison record. You guessed it !
Down Home Piano came out in 1965. The year I was born. It has copious sleeve notes. A picture of Mose on the front cover looking suave. Apparently according the sleevenotes Allison was 'starting to make it with the squares.' He plays piano, trumpet orr sings in a Hoagy Carmichael style.. He composes too, but more about that later.' The record is all 'laconic interpretation if his southern ancestry'. He's a carefree man who takes life as he finds it'
Jack McKinney's notes and the record itself are of a piece. This is all charm, ease and grace, and I'm tempted to just keep playing the record all afternoon
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