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B-3 Archive

Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 31, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

B-3 trio plus classic Beatles compositions – a winning combination … Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O 2424, 67:51 ****1/2: (Jim Alfredson – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, electric piano/synthesizers; Lawrence Barris – guitar; Randy Marsh – drums, harmonica (#9); Bill Vits – percussion (#1, 3, 5, 9, 12); Mike List – tabla (#12) ) For lovers of the Hammond organ, and soul jazz, it is a very short journey to get excited about a project bringing the Hammond to re-interpret classic Beatles compositions with organ and guitar improvisation. Changing “All You Need is Love” to 5/4 time or “Taxman” to 7/4 sounds about right when the vibe is soulful. (Adding a tenor sax to the mix would have been perfection, but who’s complaining when the trio is expanded to a quintet including tabla on George Harrison’s “Within You Without You.”) Choosing twelve tracks from the Beatles songbook might have been the hardest choice for band leader organist, Jim Alfredson, who also recorded, mixed, and mastered the project. “Taxman” kicks off the tribute with the familiar melody immediately upfront in the mix before Alfredson adds a little grease, and we’re only missing dancers on risers […]

Matt Mayhall – Tropes – Skirl

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 16, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

A new perspective on West Coast cool jazz. Matt Mayhall – Tropes [TrackList follows] – Skirl 036, 34:02 [11/4/16] ****: (Matt Mayhall – drums, percussion, acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, Yamaha Portasound VSS-30; Jeff Parker – electric guitar; Paul Bryan – electric bass guitar, producer, engineer, editor, mixer; Chris Speed – tenor saxophone (tracks 2, 5); Jeff Babko – Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, Roland SH-1000 (tracks 1, 3, 6, 7)) Los Angeles-based drummer Matt Mayhall is equally at home in pop or jazz music. He was a member of alternative pop/slowcore band Spain. He’s toured with singer-songwriters Ted Leo and Aimee Mann; and performed with Liz Phair, John Doe of X fame, and Susanna Hoffs (of the similarly famous Bangles). On the jazz side, Mayhall has provided rhythm support for keyboardist Larry Goldings; bassist Eric Revis; and horn players Vinny Golia and Chris Speed. In late 2016, Mayhall added more to his credits by issuing his debut solo effort, the 34-minute, nine-track Tropes. Throughout his nine originals on Tropes, Mayhall maintains a steady, slightly downplayed stride, a sort of modern twist on the West Coast school of cool jazz. That’s not to mean Mayhall replicates the music of Chet […]

Ron Boustead – Unlikely Valentine – Art-Rock Music

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 23, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Ron Boustead – Unlikely Valentine – Art-Rock Music, 43:56 ***: A tasty treat. (Ron Boustead – vocals; Bill Cunliffe – piano, Fender Rhodes; Hammond B-3; Mitchel Forman – piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3, accordion; John Leftwich – acoustic bass; Jake Reed – drums, percussion; Pat Kelley – acoustic & electric guitar; Bob Sheppard – saxes, flute; Bob McChesney – trombone; Ron Stout – Flugelhorn; Fabiana Passoni – vocal track 5) Who was Ron Boustead’s Unlikely Valentine? A review of the set list from his latest release does not provide any clues. Nevertheless, Boustead’s lively vocals through both the covers and original compositions from this album will be welcomed by his devotees. Backed by a full-throated stylish band, Boustead dives into the tunes with an uncanny reflection of singer Mark Murphy. The opening title track “Unlikely Valentine” was written by pianist Bill Cunliffe based on the chord changes of My Funny Valentine with lyrics from Ron Boustead. It is a rousing bebop styled number, with a husky vocals from the artist. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller began their song-writing careers in Los Angeles and eventually became one of popular music’s songwriting legends. “Love Potion No. 9” was originally recorded in 1959 […]

Joey DeFrancesco (B-3) + The People – Project Freedom – Mack Ave.

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 9, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Joey DeFrancesco + The People – Project Freedom – Mack Avenue MAC 1121, 64:20 [3/10/17] ****1/2: B-3 master shows a lot of heart in debut for new label. (Joey DeFrancesco – organ, keyboards, trumpet; Jason Brown – drums; Troy Roberts – tenor sax, soprano sax; Dan Wilson – guitar) Joey DeFrancesco has always been proud of his Philadelphia roots. As a teenager, this emerging B-3 organist garnered praise from the likes of Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones. This led to a gig with Miles Davis that got his career off to a fast start. Recently, he returned to his hometown to receive a star on the Philadelphia Music Walk Of Fame. He joined jazz luminaries including John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. Like many other Philadelphia musicians, Joey has embraced the “heart and soul” aspects of his instrumental prowess. There is no organist who is regarded by his peers and critics to such a degree. (He has been voted best organist 11 of the last 15 years in Downbeat Magazine.) As a sideman, he has played with Diana Krall, George Benson, Jimmy Cobb, Ray Charles, Bobby Hutchinson, Larry Coryell, David Sanborn, James Moody and Nancy Wilson to name […]

Mike LeDonne, B-3, & The Groover Quartet – That Feelin’ – Savant

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 16, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Keeping the classic organ/sax quartet format vibrant… Mike LeDonne & The Groover Quartet – That Feelin’ – Savant SCD 2159, 59:38 ****: (Mike LeDonne – Hammond organ; Eric Alexander – tenor sax; Peter Bernstein – guitar; Joe Farnsworth – drums. With special guest, Vincent Herring – alto sax on # 1, 5, & 6) Living in New York City with its unique seven-day-a-week jazz scene, provides the opportunity for Hammond B-3 organist, Mike LeDonne, to keep his Groover Quartet tight. Fellow band members Eric Alexander (tenor sax), Peter Bernstein (guitar), and Joe Farnsworth (drums) are all active with various projects and recording dates. Yet they can play with LeDonne often, usually at the jazz club Smoke. Mike has kept the soul jazz sax/organ/guitar front line format alive and kicking on his new CD, That Feelin’. It is a grouping that can re-conceptualize pop and soul charts like “La La Means I Love You” and “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” as well as the Broadway tune, “A Lot of Living to Do.” Straight-ahead jazz is covered by Donald Byrd’s “Fly Little Bird, Fly” and the standard, “At Last.” The quartet expands to a dual sax quintet with altoist, Vincent Herring, […]

Alyssa Allgood, vocals – Out Of The Blue – Jerujazz

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 12, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Alyssa Allgood, vocals – Out Of The Blue – Jerujazz JJR-5, 49:41 ***: A credible first outing. (Alyssa Allgood – voice; Dan Chase – organ; Tim Fitzgerald – guitar; Chris Madsen – saxophone; Matt Plaskota – drums) Alyssa Allgood is part of that cohort of up and coming young singers who are looking to make an impact in the jazz world. Not an easy thing to do given the nature of the business, and the changing pattern of the distribution channels for the end product. Out Of The Blue is Allgood’s attempt to capture lightning in a bottle, by earmarking her session to the hard-bop repertoire as defined by Blue Note Records. Backed by a jim-dandy quartet, anchored by B-3 organist Dan Chase, the set list covers some of bops’ signature compositions. Allgood has added lyrics to several of these numbers, starting with Hank Mobley’s Dig Dis which he released on Soul Station and which she calls “Watch Me Walk Away”. From Chase’s opening organ rif, Allgood finds a way to convey the number’s essence, with lyrics that are tricky to align to the bop frame. The other compositions that now have Allgood’s lyrics are Wayne Shorter’s “Speak No Evil”, […]

Dave Anderson’s Blue Innuendo – Blue Innuendo – Label 1

by Audiophile Audition | Jun 12, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Letting the swing and groove go and go and go. Dave Anderson’s Blue Innuendo – Blue Innuendo [TrackList follows] Label 1, L1-2003-2, 57:42 [4/1/16] ****: (Dave Anderson – tenor and soprano saxophone; Tom Guarna – guitar; Pat Bianchi – Hammond organ; Matt Wilson – drums) Saxophonist Dave Anderson loves to swing and groove. That’s one reason he formed a new jazz quartet, Dave Anderson’s Blue Innuendo. On the foursome’s nearly hour-long effort, Blue Innuendo, the former Seattleite takes a classic soul-jazz lineup and puts the group through its paces. Anderson is joined by guitarist Tom Guarna (who leads his own band and has supported Wallace Roney, Stanley Clarke, Mark Turner and Branford Marsalis); Hammond organist Pat Bianchi (who has a couple of his own CDs out; and has worked with Chuck Loeb and JC Stylles); and drummer Matt Wilson (his résumé includes Lee Konitz and Denny Zeitlin). Anderson moved to New York City a few years ago, and this marks his first endeavor since heading east. The ten tracks (all but one are Anderson originals) have a meaningful amount of soulful propulsion. There’s a city-centric focus to some pieces. The eight-minute opener, “Urban Dilemma,” (the longest cut) was penned expressly […]

Steve Smith – Tony Monaco – Vinny Valentino – Groove:Blue – Q-rious

by Audiophile Audition | May 22, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Steve Smith – Tony Monaco – Vinny Valentino – Groove:Blue – Q-rious Music QRM 135, 49:09 ****: A good cookin’ organ trio. (Steve Smith – drums; Tony Monaco – Hammond B-3; Vinny Valentino – guitar) Serendipity is defined as “luck that takes the form finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for”. That certainly is the case as it relates to the genesis of this recording session. A chance encounter by the members of this aggregation in March 2011, who were in Jakarta, Indonesia at the same time but for different reasons lead to a musical empathy. Later that same year, (August 2011), but now in the US, they again were brought together by chance, and decided to act on these fateful encounters to record something on spec, hoping that eventually their efforts would be released. Now the German label Q-rious has issued a CD entitled Groove:Blue and the name fits perfectly. Harking back to those 1950/1960 organ combos led by the likes of Jimmy Smith, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Brother Jack McDuff and Milt Buckner, the band waxes rhapsodic and digs into the material with gusto. The trio has judiciously chosen the set list that combines a number […]

Cory Henry – The Revival – Ground Up Music (CD + DVD)

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 18, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Cory Henry – The Revival – Ground Up Music 80024621-00 (CD + DVD), 78:45 each, ****1/2: Some of that old time religion and a Hammond B-3 is a great combination! (Cory Henry – Hammond B-3 organ; James Williams – drums, percussion; Bishop Jeffrey White – vocals) As improbable as it sounds, Cory Henry began playing the organ at the age of two. His prodigious career includes working with a wide array of musicians including Yolanda Adams, Michael McDonald, Snarky Puppy, The Roots, P Diddy and Bruce Springsteen. At the core of his musical soul is gospel. Cory Henry’s latest release, The Revival, is an homage to gospel. And in the hands of Henry, there is no better vehicle for spreading the message than the Hammond B-3 organ. Returning to perform at The Greater Temple of Praise, Henry infuses several church standards and a few secular numbers with dynamic, glowing sound. Opening with “Lords Prayer”, the performance starts with a hushed reverie. Henry continues to maintain a low-key soulful vibe, building to a crescendo of vibrato and sustain with modulations and tone diversity that is electrifying. Picking up the tempo, “He Has Made Me Glad” demonstrates a foot-stomping, joyous resonance (not […]

Will Bernard – Out & About – Posi-Tone

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 10, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Will Bernard – Out & About – Posi-Tone PR 8148, 48:33 ***: A well-intentioned outing, but better luck next time. (Will Bernard – guitar; John Ellis – saxophone; Brian Charette – organ; Ben Allison – bass; Allison Miller – drums) Out And About or (Oot And Aboot) as we Canadians might say, is the latest release from guitarist Will Bernard. While by no means a household name, Bernard is nevertheless an accomplished musician with a funky elliptical style that is at the same time edgy, yet thoughtful. The session that has been put together by Bernard, is made up entirely of his own compositions, that give no indication of their musical provenance, but seem to work for the band. Beginning with “Happy Belated,” the band finds a groove that focusses on the interplay among the members with Bernard leading the way. “Not Too Fancy” is a little vignette between guitarist Bernard and bassist Ben Allison that has a quiet polished effect. Moving on to “Habenera”, Bernard captures a tango theme with Charette’s organ opening the stops with an over the top effect, that segues into a long bass solo from Miller. In his own guitar work, Bernard plums a probing […]