Raphael Wressnig – Committed
Zyx Music
9 songs time – 40:35
Way Cool Daddio! Maynard G Crebbs would be proud. Austrian Hammond B-3 master Raphael Wressnig revives the beatnik jazz vibe. A real breath of fresh air as he honors the memories of the likes of Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith and the other B-3 greats. He leads an organ-guitar- drum trio that harkens back to a special era of time and they do the genre proud. Enrico Crivellaro on guitar and Hans-Jurgen Bart on drums are in lock step with Raphael as they broaden the soundscape. Five of the songs are from Wressnig’s hand or co-writes.
“Duffin’ ‘Round” is a tribute to Jack McDuff. It maintains a hip beatnik vibe that could fit right into a groovy scene from a sixties spy spoof movie. The mood gets dramatic on the original “Here’s The Thing”, as the enticing melodies draw the listener in. Jimmy Smith is brought to mind in “Southern Fried Chicken”. Enrico lets go with a nice but brief solo on “Soul Ballad aka Soothe the Mind”. The incessant drum figure insures that everything is in place on the funky “Nasty”, that features the words repeated, being the only spoken portion on the recording.
Raphael is intent on proving that the hands are quicker than the ears on the way funky “Shrimp Daddy”, that also gives Enrico time to strut his guitar stuff. “Pilgrimage” possesses a slow and soulful processional quality. Organ and Bart’s drums are locked-in and every turn on the rhythm-fest that is “Brighter Days (Ahead). Enrico gets in an energetic solo, as well as his usual comping. The traditional gospel song “I Shall Not Be Moved” closes things out with an authentic reading.
A welcome revisit and “hats off” to the Hammond B-3 masters, while breathing new life into the genre. This is a refreshing change of pace and a CD that I will derive many hours of pleasure from.
