Mose and Sue

Mose Allison

I began with sing-alongs.  I could belt'em.  I grew in Winnipeg's north end, and I did not realize until I was well grown and gone, that I had been nursed in blues. I thought it was all rock'n roll.  But no.  It is the blues... with a swig of jazz.

Today Bill Bourne posted a great article about one of my all-time blues and jazz heroes, the honourable Mr. Mose Allison.  It is a #mustRead for blues fans.  I cover three of his tunes: Your Mind is on Vacation,  and here's a Van Morrison cover of it; Hello There Universe, and Your Molecular Structure. I remember struggling with the cord changes and laughter when I demo'd my first version of Universe - crushing, but did not quit.

Sue Foley

Also this week, Ottawa's Sue Foley, another of my long-time blues heroes, fell into the lap of my blue screen with an announcement of her next album, The Ice Queen.  She released a pile of terrific short videos of her playing (this is a FB link) and talking, and a link to her interviews with her heroes - women of guitar.  I cover Walk in the Sun, but I like to call it "Fine for Awhile". Lyric poetic.

They both do.

Reading about the blues - how it is not simple.  it is not banal.  it is deep and rich.  it is a structure under which Mose makes us laugh and crafts his jazz.  it is a platform under which Sue relays history and displays her unique take - makes me hungry to play.

Both Mose and Sue have spent their blues in the clubs.  This is where the the blues is.  This is how the blues gets done.  It is hard work setting up and tearing down (Another FB link by Sue) so you can do it.  The Blues.  The basis of jazz.

I love these two.
Mose and Sue.
They made me play
Again today.

Dylan's Day

And the american poet from Duluth gets the prize.

The big kids in the neighbourhood listened to Dylan.  I learned the songs.  I wasn't obsessed.

I had a nice sound system, so to add to my record collection, I thought I'd better get one of Dylan's:
Planet Waves.

A specific line of poetry in one song from that album really got to me.  I identified with that line.  It was not a very positive assertion by this world class poet, but I guess it was a truthing.

Hazel

Dirty blonde hair

I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen with you anywhere

Poetry is meant to connect.  And this one did connect for me. Wholly!!  But what a bass-ackwards compliment.  I was always so grateful when someone paid a bit of attention to me.  Pitiful, I know.  The irony is, I learned and covered Hazel and perform it frequently.  I want folks to hear the slander in those lines.  Few do though.

Then a few years passed, and I had some money, so I thought, I'll get another Dylan record.  Slow Train Coming.  Gawd.. he was trying to convert me!  He was born again.  Just like so many people I've met over the years, Dylan fell into the born again pool and used his infamy to spread his perfect truth.  And I'm sure he was wealthy enough to pay his musicians well.  I doubted they were followers.  I still wonder if he fell off that wagon.  At least he keeps it private, either way.

But I did fall in love with  a version of one of his songs; arranged by John Lennon.  Performed by John and Harry Nilsson, it is  Subterrannean Homesick Blues  Pussy Cats.  Best ever version of of a Dylan song.

One good thing about the timing of this award is that folks are reminiscing about Dylan/Zimmerman today, and he is still among us.  At least it is not a funereal nor a memorial tribute.

So felicitations to all you Dylan fans.  Good on Cate for her portrayal in I'm Not There.

And finally, glad to see a poet hit the podium.  I can identify with a life-time of words fighting to escape and thoughts forming and evaporating.