Waiting For The Boogaloo Sisters...
The Mid-Michigan based trio Organissimo is not your garden variety, grandfather's organ combo. Yes, they pay allegiance to Jimmy Smith and the forefathers of the B-3, but these musicians, particularly guitarist Joe Gloss and organist Jim Alfredson, are younger and have the audience of their generation in mind. Easy comparisons to Medeski, Martin & Wood, Soulive and the Brothers Groove can be made. The difference maker is veteran drummer Randy Marsh, who has played his share of bop, soul jazz, rock, funk and commercial music, not to mention being a fan of Frank Zappa. The resultant sound is appealing to a wide variety of age groups, but concentrating on a good time feeling that succeeds on many levels. Organissimo is primarily a club band, equally able to listen to or dance along with. At their quirkiest, "Meet Me @ 11" echoes the British Canterbury movement of the ‘70s in a fun, funky but still complex 11/8 beat, while the longish "Decoder" is in 12/8, a long workout with a more tuneful line. The straight original soul-jazz swinger "Jimmy Smith Goes To Washington" closely recalls the ‘60s style Smith invented, the 6/8 "Young's Dream" is a tribute to the Prestige and Blue Note sessions of Larry Young, perhaps quoting his famous tune "Tyrone," while the Latin waltz combined theme of the spacious, probing, pretty "Life Wish" evokes a feeling of sunny California, or maybe St. Tropez. Tenor saxophonist Ron Blake expands the trio to a quartet on the youth oriented "Clap Yo' Hands" and doubles on overdubbed flute for "Blake's Shake" which is the closest to real boogaloo. Gloss assumes a Wes Montgomery style on the straight funk "You Don't Want To Do That," clearly showing his influence while simultaneously stepping away from it. A band that will be popular because of their adaptation to contemporary trends, complemented by a high level of musicianship, look for Organissimo to climb the charts and appeal to late night music lovers everywhere.
~ Michael G. Nastos