The Hammond Company has recently come up with a NEW version of its venerable Hammond B-3 organ, THE organ made legendary by Jimmy Smith, and followed up by the Who’s Who of organ players including Charles Earland, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, and Brother Jack McDuff, just to name a few.
Vince Seneri’s 2005 Senful Records release, makes front and center its mention that Vince is playing the New Hammond B-3 organ. Having along tenor sax legends David Fathead Newman on two tracks, and Houston Person on three others certainly gives Street Talk some ‘street cred.’
Also including a Ray Charles tribute of Unchain My Heart, with Ray’s tenor player, Fathead blowing bluesy licks helps, as does Seneri’s composition, Steamrollin’, a tribute to the Master, Jimmy Smith.
Drawbacks to this release include Dave Valentin’s contributions on flute on three numbers, which weaken the greasy vibe that Seneri sets on most of the other tracks. These three weak tracks – Softly in a Morning Sunrise, Reccato Bossanova, and Straight No Chaser give a weak Latin vibe that is more distracting to the Hammond B-3 vibe that Vince sets on the other selections on this CD. Fortunately, Organ Boogaloo, with Fathead Newman, and Walkin’ My Baby Back Home with Houston Person help redeem the proceedings for Seneri.
Tracks: Softly as In a Morning Sunrise, Unchain My Heart, Steamrollin’, Flamingo, Reccato Bossanova, These Foolish Things Remind Me of You, Straight No Chaser, Organ Boogaloo, Feat for FOUR, Beautiful Love, Walking My Baby Back Home, There is No Greater Love
– Jeff Krow
