Organ Grooves in a Late-Sixties Studio
Jimmy McGriff's organ leads a lean, groove-driven session that moves without fuss.
Step 1 was recorded in late 1968 and released the following year on the Solid State label, a period when McGriff was working hard in the organ trio format that defined his career. The session is built around his Hammond organ and the sort of direct, blues-rooted approach he favored: the tunes are simple, the grooves are steady, and the focus stays on his playing rather than on elaborate arrangements.
McGriff plays with the bluntness and swing that made him one of the most recognizable organ players of the era. Nothing here is meant to impress with complexity. The pleasure comes from how easily he settles into a groove and pushes it forward, with the kind of loose rhythmic feel that organ trio fans come to these records for.
If you are new to McGriff, this is a reasonable place to hear what he did best, though it is not usually the first recommendation for a newcomer. It is a solid, enjoyable entry in his catalog, valuable for committed fans of the organ sound and for anyone curious about late-sixties soul-jazz.
Who's playing
Jimmy McGrifforgan
