A feast for Hammond organ lovers…
Matthew Whitaker – On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute – Mocat Records #0004 – 42:23 – *****
(Matthew Whitaker – organ, aux keys, piano; cymbals; Marcus Robinson – guitar; Daniel Winshall- electric bass; Johnny Steele- drums; Ivan Llanes Montejo – percussion; David Sneider & Summer Camargo – trumpet; Ian Munoz – alto sax; Griffin Ross – tenor sax; Adam Stein – baritone sax; Ilai MacAggi – trombone; Antonina Styczen – flute; Kenny Vaughan – vocal (#1))
There are some CDs that you hear once and enjoy, but never seem to get around to revisiting them any time soon. Then there are others, that hit the sweet spot, and you never tire of the experience, and even replay your favorite tracks over and over. They move from your car to your home stereo, and never get pushed back totally into your CD storage.
That’s the case with Matthew Whitaker’s latest CD, On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute. It was released last summer and fell under the radar for me till recently, when I found time to check it out. As a Hammond organ fan for decades, it hits all the bases head on. Honoring Hammond giants, Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, and gospel great, Elbertina “Twinkie” Clark Terrell, Matthew is backed by a superlative crew of horns and a tight rhythm section.
Whitaker is only 23 years old, and was a child prodigy. Blind since birth, and possessed of perfect pitch, his rise has been rapid, with his first release as a leader coming before his 17th birthday.
His love for the organ is on full display here. The arrangements are solid, and provide the best opportunity to appreciate the honorees’ gifts: “greasy” organ licks, soulful horns, and guitarist, Marcos Robinson’s guitar channeling soul jazz riffs. There is not a weak filler track added.
Beginning with seminal Hammond icon Jimmy Smith’s “The Organ Grinder’s Swing,” complete with tension build-ups with “start stops” and vocal growls from Kenny Vaughan, imitating Smith’s voice style, all is well. It whets the appetite for what is to come. Charles Earland’s “Happy Cause I’m Goin’ Home,” follows with a hard charging heavy electric guitar, and a sweet flute solo from Antonina Styczen.
Dr. Lonnie Smith’s “Pilgrimage,” is a showcase for Matthew’s organ prowess, and builds up in intensity to a rousing finish. Joey DeFrancesco’s “In the Key of the Universe” has a spacey vibe, with the horns dominating, and tenor saxist, Griffin Ross, has a fine solo.
The highlight for me was “Twinkie” Clark Terrell’s “Expect Your Miracle.” It has a contagious “go to meetin” Sunday morning gospel joy, with choir members from New Jersey based New Home Baptist Church providing rhythmic clapping. Their spirit permeates the track, so much so that I played it back to back, numerous times, eliciting a constant grin.
Matthew ends the CD with his composition, “Don’t Count Me Out.” It has a contemporary hip-hop beat with effects, showing that honoring the organ greats still leaves room for more modern organ interpretations.
If you love the intoxicating groove of the Hammond B-3 organ as much as I do, don’t let this release pass you by. It’s “the real thing” and shows that Matthew Whitaker’s talents are fully formed, with a future of unlimited possibilities.
—Jeff Krow
On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute
Tracklist:
The Organ Grinder’s Swing
Happy Cause I’m Goin’ Home
Yessaah
Pilgrimage
In the Key of the Universe
Expect Your Miracle
Don’t Count Me Out
