Search - Jimmy McGriff :: Blue to the Bone

Tight, soulful and refreshing

Thor Helgason | West Newton, MA USA | 07/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This set contains some amazingly refrshing blues plus some great arragements of jazz classics (i.e., Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore") The opening track "Ain't that funk for you" is a tightly arranged blues number highlighting the talents of the five musicians on this album. It's one of those great tracks that stays in your head for days after you hear it. Throughout the album, Jimmy's organ work is rich and soulful as ever."

Funky later jazz-organ masterpiece

Mark R. Van Wagenen | Elgin, Illinois USA | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You can't go wrong with anything from Jimmy McGriff, and this is one of McGriff's best. Recorded in 1988 at Blue Note legend Rudy Van Gelder's studio, some time after other jazz-organ giants like Groove Holmes, Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff peaked, this one still features McGriff's organ front and center, but there is also plenty of room on this CD for the other talented musicians; especially Al Grey's trombone and Bill Easley's sax (veteran sessionman Melvin Sparks plays guitar pretty well too). "Ain't that Funk for You", a classic leadoff track, best exemplifies that synergy--and energy. It's also a very funky number (if you ain't tapping your foot to it, you're dead) that like the other reviewer said, will play in your head long after you hear it. "For All We Know", the second track, is a cool slow number, but the CD picks up again with #3; his version of Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", which features a long solo by McGriff that shows off the richness of his playing (and at 10 plus minutes, the other musicians get their chance too). Perhaps the funkiest tune is "Secret Love", the fourth track, followed by "Hangin'In", a slow, bluesy tune that departs the most from the overall theme of the album, which as some have pointed out, is tight and without major mood swings. The last track, "After the Dark" ends the CD well and is almost as good as the killer leadoff track. If you're into jazz organ and are looking for a slightly more contemporary and inclusive sound without departing from the old school, you'll want this CD. Highly recommended."