Greatness of / Happiness of
Singer-keyboardist Joe Mooney, who died in 1975, was simply too hip and classy for his time. His innovative New York quartet of the 1940s, admired by the likes ofFrank SinatraandTony Bennettnever scored with the public. His mid-1960s solo comeback attempt with the two Columbia LPs repackaged here met similar fates: acclaim within the industry, indifference elsewhere despite their warm, lithe vocals, fleet-fingered keyboard accompaniment and airy, clever arrangements, rendering each number a concert in miniature. OnHappiness, he brought hisjoi de vivreto "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "I Wish You Love" and infused "Lollipops and Roses" with a bright, easy swing light-years fromJack Jones's hit version.Greatnessmaintained a similar vein: toying withNeal Hefti's "Cute" and drenching "I Wanna Be Around" with a bluesy, 3 A.M. flavor. And on "Honeysuckle Rose," an organ instrumental, he can be heard cheerfully scat-singing away beneath his solo. With much of Mooney's work now available on reissues andJohn Pizzarellipaying a small homage on each album, perhaps the public is ready at last.--Rich Kienzle