Gatemouth Moore: 'Cryin' & Singin' the Blues'

I pulled out Gatemouth Moore’s "Cryin' & Singin' the Blues" tonight because we’re supposed to get 10 inches of snow tomorrow and “Christmas Blues” is one of my favorite Christmas tunes of all time. Moore pleads and begs for a new Cadillac and a new woman so sweetly that I don’t know how Santa could refuse.

Moore probably charmed everyone who heard his smooth voice, which sounds like Wynonie Harris' with a bit more honey. Even when Moore’s almost shouting, as he does on “I Ain’t Mad at You Pretty Baby,” he sounds almost like he’s singing a lullaby.

He’s backed on the album by some of the best jazz musicians of the day, including Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet, Harry Carney on alto and baritone saxophone, Budd Johnson on tenor saxophone, Tiny Grimes on guitar and Al Raglin on bass. Even the lesser known musicians sound like gods of jazz.

Hamilton and Carney help make it sound as if Moore’s being backed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra when he sings “Did You Ever Love a Woman,” later covered by B.B. King and Charles Brown, but as great as that song is I still find myself returning to “Christmas Blues.” To me, it has even more holiday spirit than Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” Now I’m ready for some snow.