Some of the best music, song, and dance in the Celtic music world,
plus a little blues, a little country-folk, and some rockie-blues

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B I O G R A P H Y

Up-dated May 13 1999

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MOSE SCARLETT and JIM CONDIE

On this, his fifth UK visit (summer 1999) in as many years, virtuoso Canadian ragtime, blues and jazz guitarist/singer and Borealis recording artiste Mose Scarlett hopes to expand further his loyal following.

An early influence on, and close friend of Leon Redbone, Mose's compelling 'velvet-smooth' baritone voice and precise, intricate guitar-work, his inter-song banter and his encyclopaedic knowledge of early 20th century popular music attract an audience united only through their common love of great melodies impeccably played. People of all ages have been known to travel hundreds of miles to see Mose Scarlett and his accompanist, Jim Condie on second guitar, perform when they have missed out on a more local visit.

On previous UK visits, Mose has notched up several major successes, like topping the bill at the Glasgow Folk Festival, or the Dundee Jazz Festival. Two years ago Mose and Jim played 35 venues in less than 6 weeks, including capacity appearances at the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen, and the Leith Jazz Festival in Edinburgh. During last year's 32-date tour Mose played the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, did 10 days on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe appearing in the world-famous Spiegeltent, and headlined at the Ropery Jazz & Blues Festival in Sunderland.

Mose, however, looks forward with relish to his return to the small music clubs scattered throughout the land he considers his true home, where he can renew old friendships or make new acquaintances. Guaranteed full houses whenever he goes to Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Merseyside, the North East, the Lake District or Scotland, his ambition is to keep expanding this patchwork quilt until he's covered the whole country.

JIM CONDIE: Edinburgh-based session-player, guitarist/slide-guitarist Jim Condie has worked with Mose since his first UK trip back in '93, has worked with him several times in North America and has just finished recording some tracks with Mose for inclusion in his long-awaited next CD.

Jim also currently plays with Tam White's 10-piece Celtic Blues Connection, in a trio with Tam and Bad Company's bassist Boz Burrell and has appeared or recorded with many household names over the last two decades ... with legends like Van Morrison, Ali Farka Tour or Charlie Musselwhite ... and featured on countless TV soundtracks, such as Rab C Nesbitt, Naked Video and Taggart.

Jim Condie, from Dunfermline originally, concedes that his grounding and indeed his first love is the Blues, but having absorbed many other influences over the years, he has evolved a distinctive individual style. In recent years his exploration of American acoustic music has opened up new possibilities for him, and his work with Mose Scarlett is one of several interesting directional developments.

Mose received the three following glowing crits from his appearances in August 1998 at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe when he played The Famous Spiegeltent.

Only the background noise - bagpipes and traffic where the hiss of 78rpm shellac would be more appropriate, spoils the Mississippi minstrel ambience as tales unfold of big town women from way out west, ukulele ladies and the conversion of Big Bad Bill to Sweet William.

Yes, Mose Scarlett is back, with a voice of Robeson depth, Glen Coe cragginess and kitchen range warmth and sporting the most mischievous eye/beard combination this side of Rawhide's cook. Deftly accompanied by Jim Condie on lead guitar, bottleneck and "electric fence post", Scarlett sings and picks blues, ragtime and jazz classics, blending the authentic ring of the ancients with his own original stamp and much spontaneous repartee. In short, the sort of tonic six o'clock was invented for.

The Herald, Sat 15th August 1998
Rob Adams

****

MOSE SCARLETT at the Spiegel Marquee

Old-time but dateless, combining the unhurried ease of a back-porch session with a lifetime's worth of burnished technique, Mose Scarlett's music conjured probably the mellowest teatime vibe on the Fringe. Sit back and forget your troubles as the lanky, bushy-bearded Canadian sings you the blues, together with jazz, swing and ragtime numbers, most of his material dating back to the Twenties and Thirties. Marvel at the tremendous bass rumble of his thoroughly and comfortably lived-in voice, at once endearing, lugubrious and immeasurably warm, both when delivering the songs and introducing them with lines such as "here's a little tune about a marriage that worked out for somebody." Backed by Jim Condie on guitar and lap steel, he handles his guitar like the old and trusted friend it clearly is, the nonchalant suppleness of his finger-picking style belying its lightning quick dexterity. Wonderful musicianship, impish drollery and enormous authentic charm. If this doesn't put a contented smile on your face, nothing will.

The Scotsman, Mon. 17th August 1998
Sue Wilson

****

Mose Scarlett. Scarlett O'Hara. Clark Gable. James Stewart. Word association takes me into the world of old Hollywood movies. That mellow feeling you get as you sink into black and white 1930s America. They don't make them like they used to. Mose Scarlett is the musical equivalent of these Sunday matinees. He sings blues from the 1920s, '30s and 40s and, together with his colleague Jim Condie from Edinburgh, picks a mean guitar. People hurrying on their way back home from work must have cast envious glances towards the Spiegeltent as the classic blues voice and slide guitar crept out from under the canvas walls, but I didn't give them a second thought. I had that Sunday afternoon feeling. Perhaps they do make them like they used to.

Until Saturday.

Evening News, Wed 19th August 1998
Morag Fleming