Organissimo - This is the Place
Big O Records
Healthy grease for the soul
Organissimo, a Hammond B-3 trio from Michigan, has the grease quotient down! For Hammond B-3 lovers, "grease" is a key ingredient in the organ-guitar-drums format. You've got the Hammond layin' down the groove, with the guitarist stirring the pot, and the drummer propelling the mix. Jimmy Smith largely set the standard in the 1950s for the Hammond B-3, followed by Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, Big John Patton, and Lonnie Smith to just name a few, and continuing on to today's groovesters such as Joey DeFrancesco, Tony Monaco, and Larry Goldings.
The key ingredient for Hammond aficionados is the "grease." It's the head nodding, booty-shaking soul, hard to define in musical terms, but you know it when you hear it. Organissimo's This is the Place has the feel and the soul of an inner city late night jazz/blues club, where the regulars are winding down from their work week, some green in their pocket and ready to party. Song titles such as Greaze Monkey, Brother Ray, and Stomp Yo' Feets tell it all. Playing virtually all original compositions by the band members, this band is time-tested and ready to spread their wings beyond the Midwest. They've already hit the Windy City playing at the Green Mill and had a gig at Detroit's famous Baker's Keyboard Lounge, so you know they are ready for the road!
An extra treat on their CD is found on Brother Ray with Randy Marsh's harp playing, and on Stomp Yo Feets with guest tenor sax player, Johnny Gist. Other song favorites on the CD for me were Tenderly and Play Nice. Pick up this CD - now available on amazon.com - and you'll have enough grease to cook dinner, lube your rig, and slick back your 'do for when Organissimo hits your town.
Song Titles: Wealthy Street, Greaze Monkey, Brother Ray, Smoking Section, Stomp Yo' Feets, Intro, Tenderly, Play Nice, Peaches En Regalia, Pumpkin Pie
- Jeff Krow