Mose Scarlett
Mose Scarlett is, unarguably, one of a kind. While he draws on a wide range of musical sources from the early 1900's through the 40's, his style defies categorization or comparison - the blend is unique. He bills his music as 'Jazz, Blues, Ragtime and Swing' because, as he says, "those are the four things I've been accused of most often". His self-taught, original technique of fingerpicking, dubbed 'stride guitar' by Canadian music journalists, delivers a syncopated punch and features simultaneous chords, melody and bass line, smoothly executed, without seeming effort.
Listen to
Mose Scarlett
- Darktown Strutters Ball [2.39Mb]
- Don't Go Lookin' for Trouble [3.42Mb]
- I Used to Love You [3.10Mb]
- Somebody Stole My Gal [2.67Mb]
- Sweet Lorraine [3.41Mb]
Over top of the resplendent guitar backing rides a big bass-baritone voice, warm and rich, with enormous emotional range. As the Glasgow Herald recently said, "Mose Scarlett is back, with a voice of Robeson depth, Glencoe cragginess, and kitchen-range warmth ... lending the authentic ring of the ancients with his own original stamp, and much spontaneous repartee..."
His eclectic repertoire includes Hollywood classics like 'As Time Goes By', raunchy blues like 'Key to the Highway,' and nearly-forgotten gems like 'The Moon Is a Silver Dollar'. Blind Blake's 'Diddy Wah Diddy' will bump up against Irving Berlin's 'Marie', and be followed by the turn-of-the-century sentimental favourite 'Wait 'Til the Sun Shines Nellie'. Although his pieces are performed only with his voice and acoustic guitar, one might almost believe a big band or parlour orchestra is playing in the background. He at once breathes new life into old songs, and preserves the integrity and emotion of the originals for a new generation of admirers.
A Mose Scarlett performance is much more than mere instrumental and vocal display. Mose's sets, at times, seem like finely executed pieces of theatre (albeit, sometimes, the theatre of the absurd). His patter includes entertaining and topical commentary on the foibles of the world (who else would think of introducing the 'Sheik of Araby' with a dissertation on oil prices?). In Mose's vicinity the unexpected is never far off - no one knows what is going to happen next (particularly his sidemen). He is deeply rooted in musical history - to give but one example, he performs 'Sweet Georgia Brown' with the rarely-heard verse and extra lyrics (though without a basketball). A keen observer of the contemporary scene, he is a trenchant social critic and a droll raconteur with many stories to tell.
Though Mose Scarlett is a fixture on the Canadian scene, performing throughout the country at festivals, clubs and theatres, he has also toured widely through the United States, as well as in England, Scotland, Germany and Australia.
For more information visit Mose Scarlett's Website
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