Amy Allison

Although Amy Allison descends from jazz and blues legend Mose Allison, the New York-based singer/songwriter projects the essence of a pure country chanteuse, her oddly distinctive voice evoking Victoria Williams or Kate Jacobs and her songs delivering raw emotional force. She entered the performing arena in the late '80s, appearing at prominent New York City roots music spots such as the Rodeo Bar with her longtime backing group the Maudlins. Critically acclaimed albums followed from that association and from her partnership in the duo Parlor James, where she performed alongside Lone Justice founder Ryan Hedgecock. Elvis Costello singled out her 1996 solo album Maudlin Years, issued by Koch Records, as one of his 500 essential albums in Vanity Fair. Allison added vocals to Neal Casal's Basement Dreams in 1999. Laura Cantrell recorded Allison's "The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter" for her acclaimed debut Not the Tremblin' Kind in 2000. Sad Girl, released in 2001 in Europe on Glitterhouse Records and domestically on the Brooklyn-based label Diesel Only, drew contributions from insurgent country notables that included ubiquitous pedal steel player Greg Leisz, Mike Daly of Whiskeytown, Will Rigby of the dBs and Steve Earle, and Neal Casal.