Dig Dog Do: Evolution

The unusually named jazz group Dig Dog Do is a fine organ trio of highly sought-after musicians from Gothenburg, Sweden. On the simply titled Evolution, the group presents their debut recording offering expressions of classic organ trio music with strong and creative statements producing a unique sound. Led by jazz guitarist Tobias Grim, who penned five of the seven originals, the other two members of the trio include organist Simon Jonsson, who wrote the other two original tunes and drummer Ossian Ward rounding out the band.

The format is augmented on "Boo Be Boo," one of the finest pieces of the set featuring alto saxophonist Martin Bjurek Svanstrom accompanying the guitarist's lead solos with lively solo moments and quick harmonic grooves ably setting the stage for Jonsson to take over the melody on a defining piece of the album. The group makes another departure from the standard trio setting on Jonsson's "Evans Blues" with the organist also playing the piano as the group welcomes Anton Olsson and Einar Thorn on percussions.

The Grim original "Like This" opens the music with the trio coming out in full force with each player laying down driving grooves on an intricate jazzy melody featuring splashy sounds from everyone. The title track lets it all hang out with some shoulder-moving funk and blues helping the band establish their unique trio-organ sound. In stark contrast with the title track "Night Watch" is a slow and beautiful piece of music that demonstrates the trio's versatility in performing a ballad with the best of them, featuring Grim and Jonsson playing off each other, while Ward uses the brushes to paint the sound mellow.

Hammond B3 specialist Sam Yahel from Europe has been based in New York City since 1990 and Jonsson pays tribute his distinctive sound on the original "Yahelism" where Jonsson plays a pronounced role leading the trio into some heavy dark-toned harmonies on a captivating piece of music highlighting the organ player's chops on the instrument with supportive and vibrant licks from Grim and well-placed crashing cymbal accents from Ward.

The guitarist shares center stage with organist Jonsson on the finale track "Take A Walk." Sounding like a hard rock guitarist from the '70s, the band travels into the territory of the experimental rock and roll groups of that era, melding those sounds with core elements of jazz resulting in a special merger of sounds that works well. While the name of the band is a headscratcher, the music on Evolution is inspiring and provocative, a fine debut from a talented group of European musicians comfortable exploring the evolution of this thing we call jazz.