Jazz Articles about Larry Goldings

Larry Goldings: As One

by C. Andrew Hovan
March 1, 2001

It’s been well over a decade now since a renaissance movement put the funky Hammond B-3 organ back on the scene with a vengeance. It’s been nearly that long since Larry Goldings decided to get together with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart to form one of the preeminent organ combos of modern vintage. In addition to sides for Verve, Minor Music, BMG and his three acclaimed Warner Brothers releases, Goldings has hit his stride while contracting with the ...

Larry Goldings Trio: As One

by Mark Corroto
February 1, 2001

The words “graceful” and “organist” can almost never be used in the same sentence. But the agile fingering of Larry Goldings is anything but the coarse, gritty soul music that you hear everywhere. His follow-up to the 1999 Moonbird trio session and the Peter Bernstein-led 1997 trio Earth Tones (Criss Cross) is his best work to date. Like the prior trios, this band is made up of Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and drummer Bill Stewart. The three musicians have been ...

Larry Goldings & Bob Ward: Voodoo Dogs

by David Adler
July 1, 2000

One of the most original and satisfying groove experiments yet. Organ whiz Larry Goldings and producer/engineer/guitarist Bob Ward team up to create music that melds James Brown, Tower of Power, contemporary dance music, and of course, jazz. The beats are heavy, the bass is fat, the tunes are strong and diverse. Ward's guitar playing is often not unlike that of Goldings's regular partner, Peter Bernstein. But Ward looms larger as a creator of beats and ambience, and it seems they've ...

Larry Goldings & Bob Ward: Voodoo Dogs

by Glenn Astarita
June 1, 2000

Voodoo Dogs is the brainchild of keyboardist Larry Goldings, and established session guitarist, multi-instrumentalist Bob Ward as vibraphonist Joe Locke, saxophonist Tim Ries, drummer Billy Drummond and others lend their distinguished talents to this upbeat affair. And while some might be a bit aghast with this overtly ' radio friendly track mix consisting of 4-5 minute tunes that skirt the edges of jazz/funk, ambient-dub and trance groove genres, the band effectively and quite artfully conveys a party-hearty and altogether vivacious ...

The Larry Goldings Trio: Moonbird

by Jack Bowers
November 1, 1999

Larry Goldings’ organ trio gets down in a hurry on the funky “Crawdaddy,” which introduces the group’s latest recording, its first for Palmetto Records. Goldings, Bernstein and Stewart have been playing together for a decade (that’s close to a century in music–group years) and have arrived at a “Comfort Zone” that must be the envy of less companionable ensembles. In other words, they love playing together, and it shows. Everyone is loose and relaxed, support is always close at hand, ...

Larry Goldings Trio: Moonbird

by David Adler
October 1, 1999

One of the most consistently satisfying straight-ahead jazz outfits, the Larry Goldings Trio joins the Palmetto Records roster with the fine Moonbird. Goldings has made his mark on the Hammond organ as a sideman with the likes of John Scofield, Jim Hall, Chris Potter, and Maceo Parker. His long-standing trio, with Peter Bernstein on guitar and Bill Stewart on drums, can be seen and heard nearly every week at Small’s in New York. Moonbird is representative of the group’s intimate-yet-fiery ...

Larry Goldings Trio: Moonbird

by Glenn Astarita
September 1, 1999

Organist Larry Goldings deserves much credit for being one of the prime exponents or perhaps motivational forces behind the early 90’s resurgence of the organ trio format. For his first release on Palmetto Records, Goldings along with his longtime bandmates, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart enhance their repertoire with originals and pop-folk classics.

The title track, Moonbird is elegantly melodic and swinging, augmented by crafty thematic renderings by guitarist Peter Bernstein. Drummer Bill Stewart is no slouch either ...