The High Cost of Low Living a Great Soundtrack for a Slow Run!

The Run – (if you can call it that)

Yesterday afternoon I looked at my Fitbit totals for the day and saw that I only had recorded 2,200 steps. Now I had proof that I had sat around all day!. So my thoughts maybe I’ll run became I have to run today if  want to get to 10,000 steps!

As I prepared to run, I decided that the plan was to run. a minimum of two miles or a maximum of 30 minutes. My main focus during the run was not how fast I was running but keeping my heart rate below 150 beats per minute (bpm). So as I was running every time I saw the rate going over 150, I slowed up  until my rate went down and back under 150.

One of the things I am very aware of is my heart rate recovery time. At the end of yesterday’s run my heart-rate was 153 bpm. However,k   I walked around the block and within five minutes my heart-rate fell to 115. By the end of my nine minute walk it was down to 110, which made me happy.

… the numbers…

Total Distance 2.76 miles Total Time: 33:04 Pace 11.57

Mile 1 -11:37 min/mile Mile 2 – 12:11 min/mile 0.76 12:07 min/mile

Avg. HR 147 bpm   Max HR 162 bpm Calories Burned 442

The Soundtrack – The High Cost of Low Living

The High Cost of Low Living by the Nick Moss Band. was the soundtrack  for the run. The album has been in my rotation for a couple of weeks now and I really like the album. On of the reason is that in addition to Nick’s great guitar work there is some really good blues harp on the album. After listening to the album a few times I looked more closely at the album cover and saw that it says the Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling! And it is Dennis Greunling who provides the amazing harmonica on the album.

It seems that Gruenling and Nick Moss have known each other for more than 20 years and have jammed together several times. But they didn’t really decide to join forces until 2016. The High Cost of Low Living is the pair’s debut on Alligator Records and is a dream come true for both artists.

About Nick and Dennis

Alligator president Bruce Iglauer says the following about the union…..

Nick and Dennis are a natural fit for the label. “It’s very exciting to bring artists to Alligator who are so deeply rooted in the Chicago blues tradition, but creating fresh new songs to carry that tradition forward. Nick’s a thrilling guitar player, a gritty, honest singer, and his band is tough as nails. Dennis is a blues harmonica master and a terrific showman. This is a partnership of two world-class talents in one band. These are artists that any fan of the blues has got to love.”

While Blues Revue says….

….“Nick Moss is at the top of the blues world….ambitious and intense…He can play traditional blues with the best.” New Jersey’s Dennis Gruenling is considered among today’s best blues harmonica players. His high-energy, full-throttle playing has earned him comparisons to the late James Cotton. Living Blues says, “Dennis Gruenling is a contemporary harmonica master…impressive, genuine and fresh-sounding.”

About The High Cost of Low Living

The High Cost of Low Living consists of thirteen tracks. Of those tracks Moss wrote nine original songs while Gruenling wrote two. All of the tracks are deeply roots in the blues tradition with a touch of old school rock ‘n’ roll. Guitarist Kid Andersen and Moss produced the album. The album was recorded at Rancho de Rhythm in Elgin, Illinois.

A little more about the Teaneck New Jersey native Dennis Greunling “Go Jersey!”

Through the years, Gruenling has shared the stage with many top names in the blues & roots world, such as Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Homesick James, Nappy Brown, John Mayall, Little Sammy Davis, A.C. Reed, Mick Taylor, and Jimmy Dawkins, as well as contemporary blues masters such as Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Rick Estrin/Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn, Steve Guyger, Greg Piccolo, Mark Hummel,

That is a virtual who’s who of blues harp and puts Mr Greunling in some great company. Well, actually his great playing puts him in that company!!

The remainder of the band is none to shabby either and includes: Michael Archer on bass, Patrick Seals on drums and Taylor Streiff on piano/organ.

The bottom line is that the album is a joy to listen to if you like me love both guitar and harp! So Check It out!!

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Nick Moss

Artist’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

Here is the Nick Moss Band performing the title track “The High Cost of Low Living”

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