CD Review
Joe Moss
Monster Love
(212 Records - 657 5750006 2)
by Dave "Doc" Piltz
Review date: October 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Joe Moss is one example of the future of the blues. Not content to mimic the blues' rich tradition, Moss has worked to find his own sound and create his own material. He is a regular at Chicago's House of Blues and Buddy Guy's Legends, as well as a number of other Chicago venues. A guitarist since the age of 15, Moss was "discovered" by Buddy Scott, who noticed Moss at a jam session at Rosa's Lounge on Chicago's west side. It wasn't long before Moss became a regular member of Scott's band, Scotty and the Rib Tips working such noted venues as The Checkerboard Lounge and Lee's Unleaded Blues. In is budding career, Moss has worked with a number of Chicago's finest blues performers, including Zora Young, Lil' Smokey Smothers, Syl Johnson, Big Time Sarah, Magic Slim, A.C. Reed, Billy Branch, and Little Mack Simmons. Joe, along with his younger brother Nick (Nick Moss & the Flip Tops), are a couple of the new generation on the Chicago blues scene, basing their work on a fat 50's sound.
Monster Love is the second release by The Joe Moss Band on 212 Records and a follow-up to the band's self-titled 1997 debut release. The band's groove comes off as something of a Chicago-meets-Memphis hybrid with Moss on guitar and vocals, supported by Dez Desormeaux (horns) and Bill LeClaire on keyboards with other backing duties shared by Dave Christansen/Eric Michaels (organ); Todd Fackler/John Sefner (bass); and Rich King/Kenny Smith (drums). The band is tight with a big sound that is a bit more "groove-oriented" than traditional "Chicago-style" combos, geared to get people get up on the dance floor.
Moss makes his statement with 11 fine originals combined with covers of B.B. King's "Please Love Me" and the Freddie King classic, "Have You Ever Loved a Woman". The album's title track "Monster Love," opens the recording and reveals Moss' musical preferences for driving horns, bubbling organ and a funky groove supported by Joe's vocals and fine guitar work. "Need Your Love," "Mad Mad Mad" and "Lost My World" provide some "get on the floor and do your thing" boogie, with an infectious groove and dance-oriented rhythms. The band provides a nice shuffle on "Oh Sandra ‘03," an updated ode to Joe's wife from the debut CD, this time presenting itself as a rockabilly-meets-western swing tune.
Other parts of the CD offer a more traditional side of Joe Moss, particularly on songs like "So Scared" and "Train Tracks" which sound like they came right out of a juke joint on Highway 61 in the Delta . The cover of "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" and the rocking dance groove of "Please Love Me," are two of the best songs on the recording, with some fine barrelhouse piano by Bill LeClaire to support Joe's stinging guitar licks and vocals.
The Joe Moss Band is representative of the young talent that is out there to carry the blues tradition. To learn more about Joe Moss and to check out his recordings, particularly his latest, Monster Love, visit the band's website at www.joemossband.com. Check the band out and enjoy what they have to offer!
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