More Than Mose
by Phil Chesnut
The newly remodeled Dimitriou's
Jazz Alley offers not only great jazz but some fantastic blues
music as well. Mose Allison will be the first blues master appearing
at JA, June 18th to 22nd. This Mississippi-born pianist/lyricist/singer/composer
is equally comfortable playing bebop, boogie woogie or delta
blues. With a style that is all his own, Allison's appeal cuts
across all musical boundaries. (Mose also plays 6/23 (w/ Rick
Kilburn & John Nolan) @ Vancouver Jazz Fest/Capilano College
Performing Arts Theatre, Vancouver, BC, 8pm.) Then on Sunday,
June 23rd, 6:30/8:30pm, for one night only, is triple threat
artist Lucky Peterson. Not only a terrific vocalist, Peterson
is a monster on guitar and Hammond B3. Lucky has always been
a bluesman: his first album was produced by Willie Dixon when
Lucky was only five. Joining him will be a top-notch rhythm
section and superb guitarist Rico McFarland. The blues keeps
on flowing in early July, (3rd & 5th-7th) with Bobby Blue
Bland. Bobby Blue has been entertaining the men and enchanting
the women with his soulful voice for over half a century. I
pity the fool that misses this blues legend.
Any one of these shows will not
only give blues fans the chance to see and hear some fantastic
blues, but also a chance to see the newly enlarged and remodeled
Jazz Alley. Known as one of the finest venues for blues &
jazz on the West Coast, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley has recently
made some major changes. The Alley has taken over the old Downtown
Grill, knocking down the wall, to add an extra 100 seats. They
have also repositioned both the bar and stage, installed a state-of-the-art
sound & lighting system, and plan on adding a recording
facility in the future!
2002