A superior organist inspired by
Hank Marr and
Don Patterson,
Bobby Floyd swings and grooves his way through a variety of blues, standards, and upbeat material on
Notes to and from My Friends. A midtempo "Yesterdays" really jumps,
Hank Marr's "Your Basic Gospel Song" (with guest tenor Bryan Olsheski) is well worthy of being revived, and tenor saxophonist Gene Walker plays with the soul and sound of
Gene Ammons on "Hip Cake Walk." Although the tenors are on one song apiece, Jeanette Williams Brewer sings "The Nearness of You," and there are substitutes on guitar and drums during "Primera Luz," most of this set features the trio of
Floyd, guitarist Derek DiCenzo, and drummer Reggie Jackson. On the basis of this CD alone,
Bobby Floyd deserves to be ranked among today's finest jazz organists, hinting at his predecessors but playing hard bop with his own sound and approach. ~ Scott Yanow