Soul and Organ in Perfect Stride
Crawford and McGriff make this sound effortless, trading lines over grooves that lock in tight.
By 1987, Hank Crawford had spent three decades proving he could swing over anything—blues changes, organ riffs, ballad tempos. Steppin' Up is not a reinvention or a statement of newfound purpose. It's Crawford doing exactly what he'd always done best, paired with Jimmy McGriff, an organist who speaks the same language. The two had crossed paths in soul-jazz settings before, but this Milestone session captures them in real sync, neither trying to outplay the other.
The album leans hard into the groove. Crawford's alto sax has that breathy, slightly raw tone that works perfectly over McGriff's Hammond B3—no overdubs, no tricks, just two players who understand how a horn and an organ can converse without stepping on each other. The writing is straightforward, built on the kind of blues and funk patterns that Crawford had been exploring since his Prestige days. It's not flashy. The melodies stick around just long enough to matter, then the players find space to breathe and improvise.
Allmusic reviewer Scott Yanow called it "highly enjoyable" and noted the results are "predictably soulful and pleasing." That's fair. There are no surprises here, and none are needed. For listeners who already loved Crawford—or anyone looking for soul-jazz that doesn't apologize for being accessible—this sits comfortably in his catalog as solid work from a player who never stopped knowing his trade.
