Wonderful!

The Deep Blue Organ Trio has been around long enough to be super-tight in all aspects of musicianship. For their fourth outing they have gone the concept album route with a project containing the songs of Steveland Morris (aka Stevie Wonder). The triad of Bloom, Foreman and Rockingham transform these nine titles from first class pop writings to vehicles for heavy improvisation and telepathic interplay.

Whomever picked the repertory was extremely clever in avoiding the big hits and obvious choices such as "Sir Duke". Leading off with a smash hit that was written for the group Rufus featuring Chaka Kahn and never recorded by its composer it is quickly followed by the catchy "If You Really Love Me" from 1971. Other ear-catchers are "You Haven't Done Nothin'" which hit number one on the R&B charts, a hypnotic "You've Got It Bad Girl" and a laidback version of "My Cheri Amour" that's as effective as a ballad as it was at original tempo in 1968.

Add this one to the list of successful Stevie Wonder tributes from Stanley Turrentine to the San Francisco Jazz Collective by the most intuitive organ trios currently working.