Ray Davies of The Kinks fame claimed, “When I discovered Mose Allison, I felt I had discovered the missing link between jazz and blues.”

On Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m. in the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre, legendary pianist Mose Allison appears with the Mose Allison Trio in an intimate concert presented by Cal Poly Arts.

Allison embodies musical versatility, given his equally brilliant career in jazz, blues, and as a songwriter. While his boogie-woogie and bebop-laden piano is innovative and fresh-sounding, it is as a songwriter that Allison really shines.

Allison’s singular style – a unique blending of jazz and blues – plus his profound lyrical wit mark him as a true American original.

Allison’s songs have been recorded by industry greats such as The Who, The Clash, Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, and Diana Krall. Admirers such as Tom Waits, John Mayall, and the Rolling Stones top the list of fans Allison has garnered in his five-decade career.

Van Morrison recorded a tribute album, “Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison,” and rockers like Pete Townshend and Bonnie Raitt have frequently cited Allison as a major influence.

After a 12-year recording hiatus, Allison’s latest studio album – “The Way of the World” – has received critical acclaim worldwide. Allison received a Grammy nomination for “Mose Chronicles, Live in London, Vol. 1,” followed shortly after “Mose Chronicles, Vol II.” Dozen of recent CD reissues include Allison Wonderland and multiple-CD retrospectives.

Other career highlights include the Patti Jones-penned biography, “One Man’s Blues: The Life and Music of Mose Allison,” and director Paul Barnays’ one-hour documentary on Allison entitled, “Mose Allison: Ever Since I Stole the Blues,” for the BBC in the UK.

Allison’s music has been used often in movies and he can be seen performing in the film, “The Score,” starring Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando.

Student and adult tickets are $29 and $36 respectively and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order tickets, visit www.calpolyarts.org.