Deirdre Cartwright: Organik

Multi-award-winning guitarist Deirdre Cartwright returns 15 years after her previous release with Organik. Far from relaxing in the intervening years, she has been collaborating widely, performing with the Alison Rayner Quintet, winning the public vote for Best Guitarist at the 2019 British Jazz Awards and authoring several guitar tuition books.

The album points towards the guitarists who have been major influences on her, alongside new original material. She is joined by Pete Whittaker on Hammond organ and Gary Hammond on percussion (making this an unusual jazz trio featuring two Hammonds).

With her Gibson guitar plugged directly into a Fender amplifier, Cartwright relies purely on touch, tone and technique, avoiding the use of effects altogether. The result is a warm, enveloping sound, perfectly complimented by organ and percussion.

Organik opens with "Eleanor Rigby," the classic composition by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Even without George Martin's driving string arrangement, the strength of the melody shines through as Cartwright's fresh interpretation nods firmly towards Wes Montgomery's octave phrasing.

There are three Cartwright originals, beginning with the swaying "One For Polly." This is followed by "Mango Bango," inspired by her time at the Bequia Blues Festival with Hammond's percussion capturing the piece's Latin flavor to perfection. Arguably the strongest of the three is "Espresso Martini"; this Pat Martino-inspired track features a standout Hammond organ solo from Whittaker with sparkling interplay to create a warm, blues-infused atmosphere.

Cartwright makes particularly effective use of harmonics in a superb solo during "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise," which also serves as a tribute to Emily Remler. Her appreciation of restraint is equally evident on "You Don't Know Me"; free from unnecessary embellishment, the trio approaches the song with such sensitivity and respect that every nuance emerges naturally.

There is still room for a tender rendition of Luiz Bonfa's "The Gentle Rain" and an engaging take on "On Green Dolphin Street," with Whittaker and Hammond driving the swing and adding Latin accents. The trio then adapts the Dire Straits hit "Sultans of Swing," composed by Mark Knopfler, into a laid-back, wide-screen groove.

Cartwright and her collaborators give the impression they had a lot of fun making this recording; perhaps the move away from a technical focus has allowed them to place greater emphasis on creativity and musical interaction. Whatever the reason, the result is a richly warm-toned and inviting album that combines Cartwright's open and expressive playing with classic Hammond textures and imaginative percussion, that always seems to invite you back for another listen.