Customer Reviews

Jazz Organ Summit

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even this is a Charles Earland album, he fellow B3 alumnis steals the show on these cookin' live B3 performances. It must have been a halluluja party concert to be on, but do we hear peak performances from the B3 giants? Yes and no....Dr. Lonnie Smith is always a guarantee for top B3 performances and Cherokee does get a treat! Johnny Hammond Smith, playing organ bass this time, makes his last performance before his untimely death, is making moving versions of The Masquarde Is Over and Summertime (solo organ). Then the quality of the performances is decreasing with McGriff and Earland. Charles Earland plays with burnin' power but its too "Earland" predictable and uninspired. McGriff follows up with his blues trademark that is only average mainstream organ blues from his hands. The last organ battle tune with all B3 giants on stage playing together, with McGriff on digital XB3 (God forbid), is a swinging mess from start to beginning. Not an essential album, but B3 fanatics will buy it anyway.

I heard this CD at a Wedding Reception in July 2005. I absolutely just had to have it, so the next day I bought it at Amazon.com. This CD is a must have. If you're a great jazz fan, you must add this wonderful, foot tapping, head swaying, live CD to your music collection. However, if you're not a great jazz fan...then buy this CD and you definetly will be!!!!

If it weren't for the last "jam" this would be a five. Dr Lonnie, Johnny "Hammond" (his last recordingk, The Burner and Jimmy McGriff what more can B-3 lovers ask for? " Lonnie's "Cherokee,", Hammond's "Masquerade and Summertime, and the Burner's"More Today than "Yesterday" Great stuff. Only the last lengthy "jam" (quite lengthy) doesn't cut it. Unfortunately the Burner and Hammond are gone but their music lives on.