Various Artists: Organ-ized

The mighty sound of the Hammond B-3 can be heard on countless jazz, R&B, gospel and soul classics. Years ago the synthesizer managed to relegate many B-3’s to church basements as the new electronic marvel was much lighter, cheaper and sounded almost as good as the original. Today the acid jazz revival has spurred the re-emergence of the B-3 as the instrument of choice for all pop/jazz/soul keyboardists. Organ-ized is a funky, 13-track collection featuring organists both young and old. There are hipsters Joey DeFrancesco and John Medeski, studio pros Mike Finnegan and Tommy Eyre, as well as acknowledged jazz masters Jack McDuff, Reuben Wilson and Jimmy Smith. Each player recorded a tune especially for this record and the cuts run the gamut from straight-ahead jazz (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy), to hip-hop (Swamp Road) to New Orleans-inspired funk (My Little Humidor). Overall, the compositions are good and the wide diversity of styles presented makes Organ-ized a “must have” for all organ lovers. (###)