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know the blues... Records
Got A Brand New PlanNick Moss and the Flip Tops Blue Bella Records
Many of you may not have heard of guitar man Nick Moss until now. He has been a fixture on the Chicago blues scene, playing in the late Jimmy Rodgers band and with the Legendary Blues Band. His apprenticeship continued once he went out on his own, playing endless gigs night after night, for small crowds and meager pay. Once you hear this disc, you’ll know that Nick learned his lessons well. This is the Flip Tops second release and it represents a quantum leap in displaying the abilities of Moss and his band of unknowns. The only name that rang any bells with me was guest harp player Lynwood Slim, who sits in on one cut. Known or not, this group digs into the 10 Moss originals and four covers and never lets go. There are plenty of things to like about this recording. Many of the Moss tunes sound like undiscovered blues classics from the golden years of Chicago blues. At the same time, the sound quality reflects the latest technology without sacrificing the down & dirty feel. The keyboard contributions of Harunobu (Hal) Tsushida on piano and John Kattke on Hammond organ really support and play off the guitar work of Mr. Moss. Listen to how they take turns supporting Moss on “My Daddy Was Right”. The drums of Greg (Smokey) Campbell set a solid foundation for the band, especially of the soulful “For You”. Moss adapts his style to each song, exhibiting a tasteful restraint on the fretboard, undoubtedly learned from his time backing other musicians. No barrage of lightning fast solos – Moss plays with feeling, within the limits of the tune. Don’t get me wrong – he is a fine guitar player. He apparently doesn’t feel the need to constantly show us how good he is, which is fine with me. His vocal range is not the stuff of legends but the vocals fit his songs. Highlights for me include “Playing By the Rules”, a Moss original with a rolling beat that sounds like a New Orleans R&B classic. “ Poison Ivy” finds Nick testifying about how “..I don’t like to brag, don’t like to say what I’d do. I’m just like poison ivy, I’ll break out all over you.” Moss takes us way down in the blues alley with a dark, brooding version of his song “ Katie Ann”, highlighted by Lynwood Slim’s harmonica. The opening track, “When It Rains It Really Pours” was good enough to be included in the latest sampler disc from Blues Revue magazine. The disc closes with a cooking instrumental version of Donny Hathaway’s “(Kind of) Ghetto”, a showcase for Moss. I really like this recording, with a fondness that grows with each listen. The blues performed Chicago’s glory days were not about endless displays of instrumental prowess. The focus was on an ensemble sound where the musicians worked to support the song and each other. Moss used that same ideal in creating this disc. We may not know the musicians by name but you will instantly appreciate their talent when you hear this effort. Maybe some day we get the chance to hear Moss and the Flip Tops live in Rockford !!! Until then, get this disc and play it loud.
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