Marblehead - Listen to the Jazz Legend

Legendary jazz singer, songwriter and pianist Mose Allison returns with his trio to join the 25th season of Marblehead Summer Jazz on Saturday, July 11, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St. in Marblehead, beginning at 8 p.m. Joining him on the bandstand will be Bob Gullotti on drums, and Paul del Nero on bass.

Allison’s 2004 and 2005 performances at Marblehead Summer Jazz were both sellouts, and series producer Gene Arnould couldn’t wait to bring him back. “We waited too long to make Mose a part of our series,” Arnould said. “We had to bring him back this year and make him a part of this celebratory season!” 

Allison is one of the great American songwriters that by his own estimates has written over 150 songs, several of which have been covered by such pop artists as Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Tracy Nelson, the Who, the Yardbirds, Elvis Costello and Diana Krall. And while wide-scale attention has eluded the 75-year-old jazz pianist/singer, Allison continues to perform 125 gigs a year, including two annual three-week stints at The Pizza Express in London, where he recorded his two most recent live releases on Blue Note Records: “The Mose Chronicles, Volumes 1 and 2.”

Other concerts in the 25th season celebration include more jazz players who have performed at Marblehead Summer Jazz in the past; in fact, all of them were sell-outs during one or more of their visits to the Mugford Street stage. Jazz diva Rebecca Parris returns to Marblehead Summer Jazz for her 25th summer appearance in as many years on July 25. The New Guitar Summit returns on Aug. 8 with Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin and Howard Arden sharing guitar duties. The season closes on Aug. 22 with the great tenor saxophonist Houston Person and his Quartet.

Tickets for the Mose Allison concert are $26 in advance, $28 at the door. Tickets for this concert and all others are available in Marblehead at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., and the Spirit of ‘76 Bookstore. Tickets may be reserved with MasterCard or Visa by calling 781-631-1528. Tickets may also be ordered online with additional information and links to performers’ sites at www.marbleheadjazz.org.