1. Roach
2. Luiza
3. Simple As That
4. Ramshackle Serenade
5. Mr. Meagles
6. Sweet And Lovely
7. Blue Sway
8. Useless Metaphor
9. Peace
Larry Goldings - Hammond organ
Peter Bernstein - Guitar
Bill Stewart - Drums
The organ trio probably had its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s when it seemed that every bar, tavern and Holiday Inn throughout North America had the
organ/guitar/drums combination in residence. During that time frame, the likes of Milt Buckner, Jimmy Smith, Big John Patton and Shirley Scott gave the
organ its cachet, whilst guitarists such as Grant Green, Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery were a few of the front-line players in such combos. In recent
years there has been a resurgence of the traditional sound of this format with Joey De Francesco, Deep Blue Organ Trio and the nominal leader of this
aggregation Larry Goldings. Ramshackle Serenade not only updates the format, it also changes the nature of the compositional structure and
harmonic underpinnings of the group.
The principal dilemma faced by these groups was how to deal with the potentially overwhelming power of the organ which could drown out the guitarist. Not
so here, as the group has found a genuine equilibrium of voices, with Goldings showing restraint and Bernstein a noteworthy presence. The session is
dominated by original compositions from the members of the band, starting with Goldings’ Roach. This is a slow blues that gives Bernstein ample
room to roam, before Goldings digs in to demonstrate his percolating technique. In the background, drummer Stewart is a whirl of motion over the drum kit.
The three covers that the group embraces are not necessarily associated with an organ interpretation but all work well in these experienced hands. Firstly
Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Luisa which, after a long introduction lovingly crafted by Bernstein, moves into the bossa nova frame on the touch of
Goldings, with Stewart laying down the beat to propel the band forward. Sweet And Lovely has a nice mid-tempo swing. After the initial run-through
of the melody, Goldings shows his resourcefulness by his take on the theme, and Bernstein takes up the challenge with his exemplary touch. Then both
players exchange eights with Stewart to good effect. Hard-bop pianist Horace Silver wrote a very un-bop-like tune entitled Peace, where the band
takes up the melody in lyrical fashion, and then demonstrates their ability to make complex interactions sound simple.
Larry Goldings wrote the title track Ramshackle Serenade which does not seem to have any discernible rhythmic underpinnings, but offers
an oblique development to showcase the band’s ability to be emotional musical colourists. All in all an expressive outing from a sure-footed band.
Pierre Giroux
CD Reviews
Pirouet PIT 3077
