A Soulful and Bluesy Jazz Organ Classic
Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 05/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of the early wave of B-3 players coming off the R&B chitlin circuit, getting on the Jimmy Smith bandwagon and reaking havoc, Babyface was one of the most soulful ones. He came from that early soul Jazz wave that included Freddie Roach, Big John Patton, Shirley Scott and a few others. Like a lot of the players of that era, his playing is very rooted in the blues... in fact it is the blues. Picture yourself circa 1962 in North Jersey on a hazy Saturday night in a crowded corner bar with a B3 trio off to the side lead by a copper haired organ player (who just happens to use the same barber as Jack McDuff) a few fine ladies up at the bar, and plenty of people dancing as well... the Leslie tearing your eardrum apart. (This is actually a factual picture !)There aren't any samples to listen to up on this CD, however you can hear some of Babyface's organ playing on the Grant Green album 'Grant's First Stand' (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/eras/B00002SWSO001004/002-2373762-1161864) You can also read a bio of him over at http://www.theatreorgans.com/grounds/doodlinThis particular album features his playing a year before fading into obscurity (he's since passed)and was origianl released on the Argo label... Ben White on guitar and Eugene Bass on drums.A must have. After getting this, try GRANT GREEN's BLUES FOR LOU (John Patton on Organ), get some HOT BARBEQUE from Jack McDuff, or check out the new Freddie Roach reissue..."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1