A Tuesday night mainstay for years at Chicago's Green Mill Lounge, Deep Blue Organ Trio has been receiving wide-spread attention as of late, touring the U.S. as opening act for Steely Dan. Hoping to perpetuate this deserved recognition, the trio is set to release its fourth release
Wonderful!, a tribute to the songwriting legacy of Stevie Wonder. The disc is a toe tapping, swinging affair with nine interpretations of classic Wonder material, featuring the soulful renderings of guitarist Bobby Broom, organist Chris Foreman and drummer Greg Rockingham.
Wonder's reputation as a master craftsman of melody and harmony has been secured for some time and jazz musicians recording his music is nothing new. What makes this recording stand out is the convincing and seemingly natural way the trio presents familiar pop tunes in a straight-ahead manner. The groovy swing heard on "If You Really Love Me" and "As" and the crawling ballad tempo of "My Cheri Amour" bring freshness to the material, enhanced by the band's signature, greasy allure. The dirty funk treatment given to the Wonder-penned hit for Rufus "Tell Me Something Good" is worth the price of admission.