“A prolific composer and heavy-duty improviser who pulls real magic out of his eclectic bag” –LA Weekly

“Chin’s touch and articulation is relaxed and in constant flux” –All About Jazz

“[Richard Julian is]a true soul singer and an astonishing storyteller in the vein of Randy Newman or Paul Simon” –NPR

Critically acclaimed artist John Chin releases tribute to Mose Allison featuring singer-songwriter and storied Brooklyn club owner Richard Julian.

Bringing together acclaimed collaborators, drummer Dan Riser, bassist and trombone player Matt Pavolka, saxophonist Stacy Dillard and special guest, trumpet player Kenyatta Beasley, Anything Mose! shares original treatments of select tunes from Allison’s extensive repertoire, including such favorites as “Your Molecular Structure” and “I Don’t Worry About a Thing,” as well as lesser-played gems like “Monsters of the Id.”

Esoteric darling of those-who-know music scenes, Allison -- along with his eclectic repertoire – emerged as the perfect sound for Chin and Julian to interpret together. In particular, Allison’s approach to the robust, enduring blues lineage appealed to both leaders, who initially booked a few dates at Smalls Jazz Club and Rockwood Music Hall just to get into the music.

“We never intended to make a record. It was just supposed to be something fun – an excuse for me to work with Richard,” says Chin, who recruited Julian as an unofficial co-leader after having been a fan of his songwriting for years.

The project endured a slow start as a result of Julian’s booked schedule as he opened his famed Brooklyn venue LunÀtico, but the partnership was kismet. “I said to Richard, ‘Are you into Mose?’ Turns out Mose is his guy. He knew all the tunes. So I said, ‘Let’s do this!’”

The project demanded artists who would approach the repertoire with bold ideas and a sensitivity that honors the nuance of Allison’s sound. At the piano, hallmarks of Chin’s virtuosity include a pervasive sense of humor and penchant for risk-taking. He and Dillard, whom Chin considers his musical brother, play off each other’s lyrical sensibilities and shared elastic groove.

For years, different iterations of Chin’s trio, comprising Rieser and Pavolka, have bonded individual artistries to create a singular expression that serves Julian’s natural command of the mic. “The three of us as a rhythm section have done a thousand dates together,” says Chin. “I don’t have to give them any direction.” The impact of their foundation reflects sophisticated listening and receptivity, creating opportunities for strong statement making, even on the most grown of grown folks tempos.

A seasoned song interpreter, Julian approaches the repertoire with experiential wisdom and an appetite for exploration. He bends phrases around the movement of his guitar, embodying the band’s collective vibration – from expressly modal meditations on the blues within “I Don’t Worry to About a Thing” to deep pocket walks from one chorus to the next on “Smashed!”

During their only performance in South Carolina, at Jazz Corner on Hilton Head – and unbeknownst to the band – Allison’s widow Audrey had assembled an intimate memorial service in honor of her husband. She had flown in friends and family to enjoy the music and celebrate Allison’s life and legacy. “It was amazing,” says Chin. “The relationship we have with his family is really special and meaningful to us.”

Despite a warm reception, and an invitation to contribute to Allison’s recent tribute record If You’re Going to the City –featuring Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper and Jackson Browne – the pandemic has forced the band to postpone dates at the Rose Room and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. But the artists remain enthusiastic about the music and encouraged by the response from past performances. “Our first gig at Dizzy’s ended up being sold out,” says Chin. “I remember asking the crowd, ‘Who are the Mose people? Who amongst you came out because of Mose?’ Seeing that reaction, I was like, ‘Wow. Mose lives.’”