MATTHEW KAMINSKI QUARTET - Live At Churchill Grounds
Chicken Coup(2016)
Organist Matthew Kaminski’s day job during baseball season is as organist for the Atlanta Braves, but outside of that he is a busy jazz organist, and his third album for Chicken Coup finds his working group captured at Atlanta’s Churchill Grounds club.
His quartet with saxophonist Will Scruggs, the fantastic guitarist Rod Harris Jr. (who some may know for excellent Youtube transcription and instructional videos) and drummer Chris Burroughs is augmented on six of the ten pieces by vocalist Kimberly Gordon. As is also the case with vocalist Alyssa Allgood’s tribute to the Blue Note oeuvre, “Out of the Blue”, the addition of a vocalist to a traditional organ combo is a welcome and fresh addition.
The vocalist’s stylized vocals are at their best on “April in Paris”, also featuring a tasty Grant Green/George Benson infused turn by Harris Jr, Duke Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me”, and “If I Had You”. Kaminski makes a wise choice to include some unusual fare in the organ group configuration by reprising the Beach Boys’ “Sail on Sailor” which he recorded previously on a studio album, making full use of Scruggs’ gorgeous tenor saxophone sound, and his passionate solos are highlights throughout the set. Listen to his turn on Jimmy Smith’s classic blues, “Midnight Special”, keeping the barbecue going. Kaminski’s basslines are tight as well, his assured walking bass line in his unaccompanied intro to Jack McDuff’s “A Real Goodun” carry more than a hint of the signature McDuff slickness.
Furthermore, the atmosphere of the album is a throwback to classic “live” dates with organ such as the aforementioned McDuff’s “Live!” (Prestige, 1964) Jimmy Smith’s “The Boss” (Verve, 1968) or Grant Green’s “Live at the Lighthouse” (Blue Note, 1972). Kaminski’s date is relentlessly grooving and from the soul.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
Chicken Coup(2016)
Organist Matthew Kaminski’s day job during baseball season is as organist for the Atlanta Braves, but outside of that he is a busy jazz organist, and his third album for Chicken Coup finds his working group captured at Atlanta’s Churchill Grounds club.
His quartet with saxophonist Will Scruggs, the fantastic guitarist Rod Harris Jr. (who some may know for excellent Youtube transcription and instructional videos) and drummer Chris Burroughs is augmented on six of the ten pieces by vocalist Kimberly Gordon. As is also the case with vocalist Alyssa Allgood’s tribute to the Blue Note oeuvre, “Out of the Blue”, the addition of a vocalist to a traditional organ combo is a welcome and fresh addition.
The vocalist’s stylized vocals are at their best on “April in Paris”, also featuring a tasty Grant Green/George Benson infused turn by Harris Jr, Duke Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me”, and “If I Had You”. Kaminski makes a wise choice to include some unusual fare in the organ group configuration by reprising the Beach Boys’ “Sail on Sailor” which he recorded previously on a studio album, making full use of Scruggs’ gorgeous tenor saxophone sound, and his passionate solos are highlights throughout the set. Listen to his turn on Jimmy Smith’s classic blues, “Midnight Special”, keeping the barbecue going. Kaminski’s basslines are tight as well, his assured walking bass line in his unaccompanied intro to Jack McDuff’s “A Real Goodun” carry more than a hint of the signature McDuff slickness.
Furthermore, the atmosphere of the album is a throwback to classic “live” dates with organ such as the aforementioned McDuff’s “Live!” (Prestige, 1964) Jimmy Smith’s “The Boss” (Verve, 1968) or Grant Green’s “Live at the Lighthouse” (Blue Note, 1972). Kaminski’s date is relentlessly grooving and from the soul.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
