Big Ole Blue Moon is a wistful vintage swing-blues ballad I recorded with Chris Missen for his 2025 album Saudade Stories. While the arrangement is steeped in old-school charm—with stride-style piano, bluesy fills, and a clarinet solo reminiscent of Acker Bilk’s Stranger on the Shore—the song’s heart lies in its late-night, introspective storytelling.

Lyrically, it reflects solitude, melancholy, and quiet resignation, as the narrator finds company in the bottle and the big blue moon overhead. There’s a touch of gentle humour in the moon’s personification, even as themes of loneliness, heartache, and acceptance surface. It’s the sound of someone letting the night wash over them, caught between melancholy and lighthearted self-awareness.

Musically, this track has a more active energy than the album’s other jazz-blues ballad, A Shade of Blue. While it’s rooted in a slow, bluesy feel, my piano part is far more animated here, with a stride-style left hand, bluesy fills, and a rhythmic bounce that keeps the track moving. Stylistically, it falls somewhere between an early jazz ballad and classic swing-blues, with my playing drawing inspiration from legends like Fats Waller and Ray Charles. The clarinet solo adds a nostalgic, late-night glow, deepening the reflective mood.

Expressive and playful, Big Ole Blue Moon captures the warmth and character of vintage jazz-blues, all while showcasing Chris’s gift for evocative melodies and stories of heartbreak.

Curious how the piano brings this swing-blues ballad to life? Hear the isolated piano version here.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Musicians:

Chris Missen - Vocals,acoustic guitar, bass, drum programming

Eyal Sela - Clarinet

Lisha Kayrooz - Piano