Search - Scott Hamilton, Mike Ledonne :: Organic Duke

Swinging stuff

S J Buck | Kent, UK | 07/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This lovely session of Ellington material from 1994 features the impeccable Tenor Sax playing of Scott Hamilton teamed up with the Hammond Organ playing of Mike LeDonne. On bass is Dennis Irwin and Chuck Riggs is on drums.



The first track is 'Jump for Joy' and on this track, as on the rest of the album, Hamilton shows why he is considered one of the leading mainstream players of his generation. LeDonne matches him with an inventive solo making use of some of the Hammond organs extraordinary palatte of sounds. The second track 'Blue Hodge' (interestingly not an Ellington original) is taken at a lesser tempo but drives along with a relentless grove. Strangely enough on both these tracks LeDonnes organ playing in some way reminded me of Count Basie. I'm not sure why, perhaps something to do with his phrasing.



The rest of the album maintains a similar style and standard, and I could talk about every track in some detail. However all you need to know is that this is well worth getting. It doesn't seem to be available new anymore so if its of any help its on the Concord label catelogue number

CCD-4623 (in the UK anyway).

"