All In

There's something reassuringly direct about "All In", an album that wears its influences proudly and never pretends to be anything other than what it is: a solid, groove-led jazz organ quartet date with strong playing and an easy sense of swing. Israeli guitarist Gil Livni leads from the front, but this is very much a collective effort, rooted in tradition and delivered with conviction.

Livni's choice of format immediately sets the tone. The guitar-organ quartet has a long and storied lineage, and with Yonatan Riklis on Hammond, Yonatan Rosen on drums and Amit Friedman on saxophone, the band taps into that lineage with clear affection. From the punchy opener "Wonder Woman," it's clear these musicians understand the language. The groove locks in early, the feel is relaxed but assertive, and the conversation flows naturally.

Across ten tracks - seven originals, a couple of standards and a bold Beatles reworking - Livni keeps things moving without overstretching. His guitar style is lyrical and clean, blues-inflected without becoming too gritty, and always rhythmically alert. There's a sense that he's more interested in feel than flash, and that works in the album's favour. On the title track "All In" and the laid-back "Walk in the Park," the band settles into a comfortable pocket, letting melodies unfold at their own pace.

The album's most eye-catching moment is undoubtedly "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". Stripped of its rock heft and reimagined through an organ-jazz lens, it becomes a slow-burning groove vehicle that plays to the quartet's strengths. It's an imaginative choice that pays off, even if it doesn't radically transform the source material. Elsewhere, standards such as "I Thought About You" and "Since I Fell for You" are handled with respect and warmth, offering familiar ground between Livni's originals.

Amit Friedman's saxophone brings a welcome edge, adding bite and urgency when needed, while Riklis' organ work is consistently tasteful, anchoring the harmony and driving the band forward. Rosen's drumming is supple and responsive, never overplaying but always pushing the music along.

"All In" may not break new ground, but then I guess it doesn't aim to. What it offers instead is a well-played, enjoyable listen, grounded in groove, tradition and ensemble chemistry. Solid without being overly ambitious, it's an album that knows its strengths and sticks to them.