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Mike LeDonne: I Love Music
BySave for the tenor's imposing presence (he never designs a solo that is less than admirable), the album hews closely to the organ trio format pioneered by the legendary Jimmy Smith and his successors. As such, the blues is of course ever-present, if not explicit (as in "Blues for Gene," "Blues for Ball" or "The World Is a Ghetto"), then invariably hovering nearby, as each of these gentlemen is well-versed in the genre and makes it his basic home, even when blowing on more straight-ahead themes such as "I Love Music" or the standard "Put on a Happy Face." Milt Jackson composed the irrepressible "Blues for Gene," McCoy Tyner the animated "Blues for Ball." A pair of songs by Stevie Wonder, "Do I Do" and "I Love Every Little Thing About You," while not expressly the blues, emulate the music's supernal spirit and temperament so closely that they may as well be.
"Happy Face," drawn from the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie and arranged by LeDonne to honor his disabled daughter and indeed all children born with disabilities (he's the founder of the non-profit "Disability Pride New York City"), is taken at a more leisurely pace than usual, underscoring engaging statements by LeDonne, Alexander and Bernstein, each of whom is squarely in the pocket on every number. Farnsworth, besides keeping unerring time, fashions a vigorous solo on "Do I Do." "Ghetto" is a pleasant surprise (half a dozen writers are listed), a charming tune on which everyone has something perceptive to say. That is, in fact, the order of the day, as LeDonne and the others prove once more that organ trios (plus one) are unequivocally salubrious and relevant.
Track Listing
Blues for Gene; I Love Every Little Thing About You; I Love Music; Put on a Happy Face; Blues for Ball; The World Is a Ghetto; Do I Do.
Personnel
Mike LeDonne
organ, Hammond B3Mike LeDonne: Hammond B3 organ; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone; Peter Bernstein: guitar; Joe Farnsworth: drums.
Album information
Title: I Love Music | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Savant Records
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About Mike LeDonne
Instrument: Organ, Hammond B3
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