Moss

Playing guitar for Chicago blues heavyweights like Jimmy Rogers (not to be confused with old-time country singer Jimmie Rodgers) and Jimmy Dawkins looks good on a resume, but it wouldn't mean as much if Nick Moss hadn't learned a lot from those experiences. Obviously, Rogers and Dawkins taught him well – very well, in fact. Although Count Your Blessings was recorded in late 2002 and early 2003, this CD has no problem capturing the spirit of electric Chicago blues in the '50s and '60s. Moss' performances aren't slick; the singer/guitarist's tough, rugged, gritty approach recalls the glory days of Chess Records, and sometimes brings to mind Magic Sam (who recorded for Delmark, not Chess, but was heavily influenced by the Chess sound).

Nick Moss has produced excellent, true-to-form electric blues with his backup band the Flip Tops. Here he is the leader and frontman all the way, even though longtime bandmates like drummer Bob Carter, second guitarist Gerry Hundt, and keyboardist John Kattke are still supporting him. The focus for Moss on this, his eighth album, is different in ways that hearken back to late-'60s rock with current-day side bars. A more than adequate singer and guitarist, Moss is stretching his repertoire on this collection of old favorites and newer tunes with a funky beat, and in some instances, fusing both elements. Baby boomers will love hearing a riff-driven version of Cream's "Politician," with Pete Brown's poignant lyrics just as relevant today as when they were written…

Jessica Moss has been blossoming as a solo artist since the release of her acclaimed debut album Pools Of Light in spring 2017. The violinist, composer and singer best known for her fifteen-year tenure in political post-punk band Thee Silver Mt. Zion is newly ascendant as a soloist, captivating audiences with gritty, warmly expressive electronic- and drone-inflected post-classical Minimalism (and sometimes Maximalism), accented by a distinctive melodic sensibility that channels Klezmer, Balkan and Middle Eastern tropes. Moss has played 80 shows in the past year, including appearances at Big Ears, WSO New Music, Le Guess Who?, Zemlika and Supersonic, participation in multiple editions of Basilica Hudson’s 24-Hour Drone Fest, and a mix of headlining dates and opening slots for the likes of Zu, BIG|BRAVE (on whose most recent album she also plays), and labelmates Godspeed You! Black Emperor.