Brad Allen Williams, Lamar

On the docket today is electric guitarist Brad Allen Williams fronting a contemporary organ trio with the album Lamar (Sojourn). It's Brad's debut as leader. He is joined by some serious musical personalities in Hammond organist Pat Bianchi (whose music I have covered here) and drummer Tyshawn Sorey, who needs no introduction, as the saying goes.

What's especially nice about this one is that it shows strong roots in the organ trio tradition, soulful and bluesy, yet has a contemporary tang to it so that we are not in rote repetition mode so much as we are on new-old ground.

Tyshawn swings like the devil, and that's not surprising given his deserved cred. Pat Bianchi channels the jazz organ tradition but adds to it as well with some flourishes all his own.

The repertoire here is refreshed. We get standards like "Stairway to the Stars" and the r&b chestnut "Betcha By Golly Wow," some out-and-out blues-funky feels and a an advanced hip-bop thing by Brad, and even a hopped-up version of "Galveston," the Glen Campbell hit from years back.

Foremost here is the guitar (and electric sitar for one number) of Brad Allen Williams. He has that sort of grits-and-gravy-meets-hard-bop rootedness to his playing, but again, not in any way rote. He contributes his own solo sense and lines-out very well.

I found myself digging in and on to Lamar. Any fan of the organ trio sound will find this different enough that it does not feel like deja vu. Very groovy!!

Greg Skaff, 116th and Park

Take the skeletal structure of a kicking organ trio, add bass and percussion when needed, get some very hip tunes together, and...you have in essence Greg Skaff's 116th & Park (Zoho 201208).

This is his third in this bag and it's a charmer. Ralph Peterson Jr sounds as smoking as ever (listen to him on "The Beehive"!), Pat Bianchi does a hot, contemporary Hammond thing with real style, drive, and no cliche. Greg Skaff is all-invention in the organ trio tradition--and since he's following in the footsteps of cats like George Benson and Pat Martino, you know he's gotta be good or it isn't going to happen. Greg has it and shows it and that way we can dig it! He comps masterfully and lets loose with some LINES. Bassist Paul Nowinski and Mauro Refosco on percussion add the right things when present.

There are some nice Skaff originals, a goodie by Ralph and well-chosen classics, including "Come Sunday" and "Bye-Ya".

So what you have is organ trio the way you hope to hear it. Greg Skaff does it. Crank this one up!