Folk Music

A new release from the Deep Blue Organ Trio is always cause for celebration, and their new Origin Records release is no exception. The Deep Blue Organ Trio (DBOT) is much more than the typical Hammond organ trio - guitar, organ and drums - in that they have the Hammond groove down pat as one would expect with a group of their longevity (performing under their name since around 2000), but they go way beyond the usual Hammond trio repertoire. The song selection on Folk Music certainly centers around the blues as evident on the original A Deeper Blue, but then they also take on the 1959 chestnut, I Thought About You, from Van Heusen and Mercer. Pop music gets its due in the Beatles' ballad, She's Leaving Home. Soul/funk is covered by Never Knew Love Like This Before and the Ohio Players' Sweet Sticky Thing.

Bobby Broom's soulful guitar and his fleet runs take center stage often but Chris Foreman's Hammond B-3 is a welcome change from typical Hammond fare as his Hammond playing is clean, understated, and yet funky as need be. He is the consummate accompanist, much less the out front Hammond man than was Jimmy Smith. It's a welcome change and his ensemble work is perfect for the group. He builds his solos at a gradual pace and is the perfect foil for Broom's tasteful guitar lines. Drummer Rockingham is rock solid and in the pocket always.

DBOT also keeps the jazz folks happy with great arrangements of jazz classics from Lee Morgan (Ceora); Vic Feldman's churchified The Chant; Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You; and the Latin based reading of Kenny Dorham's Short Story.

Special mention should be made of Mark Sheldon's photography and John Bishop's cover design as the CD cover and graphics bring to mind the best of Blue Note with a nod to Ike Quebec's It Might as Well Be Spring.

Folk Music is an apt title for this swinging session. I'd add "Comfort Food" as an additional description as this CD covers all the Hammond trio bases with a feelgood vibe, much as you'd experience while eating good down home cooking. Dig into Folk Music for a well-cooked Hammond B-3 trio meal!