Soul Organ Grooves Across Six Years
Recorded across two sessions six years apart, this is McGriff in comfortable, soulful blues mode.
The personnel on this record were not assembled for a single afternoon. Jimmy McGriff recorded material in 1966 and again in 1972, and the two sessions were eventually gathered together for release on the Groove Merchant label. The core group behind McGriff's organ includes guitarists Lawrence Frazier and Thornel Schwartz, tenor saxophonist Harold Bennett, trumpeter William Skinner, and trombonist Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton, with James Peacock on congas and Willie Jenkins on percussion. Hearing the two sessions knit together is part of the appeal, since the shared personality of McGriff's organ holds the whole thing in one piece.
The music is straightforward soul-jazz. McGriff plays the way he always did, with a deep, rolling bass line under his left hand and a bluesy, unfussy right hand on top. The covers of contemporary R&B material get the most out of his blues touch, and the two originals, "Tiki" and "Old Grand Dad," are where the record is strongest. "Old Grand Dad" in particular shows what he does best, slow and greasy with plenty of room for the horns to stretch out.
Where does it sit in his catalog? This is not the place to start with McGriff, and it is not his peak. Critic Douglas Payne of All About Jazz wrote that the music "isn't terribly memorable," though he added that the blues covers and the originals make it worth picking up for fans. That is a fair assessment. If you already like McGriff's organ playing, this is a comfortable, enjoyable addition. If you are new to him, start with a more celebrated record first.
Who's playing
Lawrence Frazierguitar
Thornel Schwartzguitar
Harold Bennetttenor saxophone
William Skinnertrumpet
Lawrence "Tricky" Loftontrombone
Jimmy McGrifforgan
James Peacockcongas
Willie Jenkinsmembranophone
