Search - Gary Versace :: Reminiscence

Not your typical organ trio ...

Joel S. Schneider | San Francisco | 10/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my top three favorite jazz organ recordings of all time. My other two favorites are Larry Young's "Unity" and Jimmy Smith's "Crazy Baby". Of course, these three recordings are nothing alike, except that they are exceptional examples of the organ asserting its jazz identity and still untapped power as an instrument for musical expression. Versace plays the organ with the imagination and sensitivity that I've always imagined it was capable of. He obviously is steeped in jazz history but he also has the sense of adventure and taste to explore new territory in a way thats always musical - not just a series of mathematical exercises. I have not been this impressed with a jazz organist since Larry Young first hit the scene. Also worth noting is his ability to create tonal variety in his sound - Versace finds many more avenues beyond the typical Jimmy Smith percussion approach that so many other jazzers have tended to replicate. This is a tremendous trio of musicians who create jazz on a very high, cliche-free, level. Not your typical organ trio ... to say the least."