Allen Michie
Here’s a trio of organ trios from a new generation of players indebted, but not chained, to the classic jazz format and style that has been dominant since Jimmy Smith in the ’60s.
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Samara Joy uncorked her gospel pipes, the likes of which probably haven’t been heard on mainstream secular stages since Aretha Franklin.
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Two highly recommended sets available on vinyl in limited editions on Record Store Day, November 24. CD issues will follow shortly afterward.
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It’s good to hear the Basie band stretch. But it’s even better to hear them exult the blues with their own time-honored style leading the way.
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The arrangements seem to emerge organically from the structure and feel of the compositions and harmonies, like leaves unfolding from the stem of an exotic plant.
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Taking both of these new releases together should satisfy the ‘bones jones of just about any jazz fan.
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Fans of Postmodern Jukebox and the swing revival will enjoy this album, as will any jazz fan who appreciates taut small-group arrangements and terse, focused solos.
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Singer Marc Jordan has earned his voice the hard way, trekking through the music business for 50 years, and there’s a weathered honesty in his music now.
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It’s hard to think of music that is more foolishly impractical than jazz, even with its pursuit of lofty ideals.
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Book Review: “3 Shades of Blue” — Transcendent Art, Despite Personal Demons
“3 Shades of Blue” is at its most compelling seen as an extended essay about drugs, creativity, the jazz life, and the mysterious nature of musical genius.
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