Gypsy musicians who are drawn to playing jazz are inevitably stereotyped as being string players, but that is not the case with keyboardist
Jermaine Landsberger, who makes the Hammond B-3 his instrument of choice, joined by guitarist
Paulo Morello and drummer
Dejan Terzic.
Landsberger's originals prove to be potent, beginning with his hip, funky blues "Hammond Eggs," a number sure to get listeners swaying their shoulders in a club setting. "Gypsy Steps" is a powerful reworking of
John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," adding the big-toned tenor saxophonist
Peter Weniger. The moving ballad "Bright Sky" also features
Weniger, with sublime solos by
Landsberger and
Morello as well.
Morello is also a strong composer, offering "Remembering Jimmy" (a funky tribute to the late organist
Jimmy Smith, with whom he toured in 2004) and the demanding "Space Blues," which takes the quartet far from the usual jazz organ mood. The familiar works are equally enjoyable. The trio setting of
Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now" is delightful, with beautiful interplay between
Landsberger and
Morello, while the organist establishes a hip groove in his arrangement of the standard "Alone Together." ~ Ken Dryden