Deep Blue Organ Trio- Wonderful!

[Sundog]

As usual- very much looking forward to this. Nice Cover. Tracklist Wow, great selection of songs!

[Lazaro Vega]

Is this on Delmark?

[Chuck Nessa]

No, Origin.

[mikeweil]

Origin is the label Bobby Broom records for, right?

I need to get these - I have only the first and like it a lot. I like Broom best with this band.

[Sundog]

Origin is the label Bobby Broom records for, right?

I believe the last two or three releases under his name are on Origin. So is DBOT's previous release, Folk Music.

[GA Russell]

I received this press release today:

Bobby Broom's Deep Blue Organ Trio

Salutes the Music of Steve Wonder with

Jazz- & Groove-Based Versions of

9 Wonder Songs

Chicago Group's 4th CD & Second for Origin Label

Due for Release August 16

July 26, 2011

With the release of their new CD Wonderful!, Chicago's acclaimed Deep Blue Organ Trio reveals just how well Stevie Wonder's songs adapt to a jazz-rooted setting. The disc, due out August 16 on Origin Records, features guitarist Bobby Broom, organist Chris Foreman, and drummer Greg Rockingham and their deeply informed, strongly felt versions of nine Wonder songs from the 1970s.

"Stevie was a huge influence," states Broom, who produced and arranged Wonderful!, the trio's fourth CD and second for Origin. "He was monumental in terms of what he gave to us in that generation."

In selecting material, the group aspired to do justice to their own sound and approach as well as Wonder's music. "We wanted to be creative without going overboard or changing things just for the sake of changing them," says Broom. "We wanted to get to the essence of the songs."

Deep Blue's choices include "You've Got It Bad Girl" from 1972's Talking Book; "Golden Lady" and "Jesus Children of America" from 1973's Innervisions; and "You Haven't Done Nothin'" and "Ain't No Use" from 1974's Fulfillingness' First Finale. "As" appeared on the 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life, while "Tell Me Something Good" was debuted by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan on that group's 1974 MCA album, Rags to Rufus.

Rockingham adds that the musicians listened closely to the originals, and searched for different ways to play them. "And we made sure that we knew the words so we could play the melodies true to what Stevie was saying," he says.

Embracing that point of view, Deep Blue retains many of the nuances of Wonder's own interpretations. On "You Haven't Done Nothin'," for instance, the trio uses a repeating three-note riff, sung on the original by the Jackson 5. Other tunes have been ingeniously reworked, with "Golden Lady" turned into a waltz and "My Cherie Amour" a ballad.

Broom, Foreman, and Rockingham -- who first played together in 1992, and formed Deep Blue in 2000 -- have emerged as prominent purveyors of the jazz organ trio tradition. Prior to Wonderful!, the band recorded two albums for Delmark (2004's Deep Blue Bruise and 2006's Goin' to Town: Live at the Green Mill ), and 2007's Folk Music for Origin. For the past nine years, when not on tour, they've held down Tuesday nights at the famed Chicago jazz club, the Green Mill.

Award-winning music biographer David Ritz, who wrote the liner notes for Wonderful!, heard a Deep Blue performance at the Green Mill and enthused, "These guys are playing ballads that have me weeping, blues that have me moaning, grooves that have me jumping."

Greg Rockingham, Chris Foreman, Bobby Broom

Harlem native Bobby Broom has played with such notables as tenor saxophone titan Sonny Rollins (early- to mid-1980s, and again from 2005 to 2010), organ maestro Charles Earland, and the exceptional pianist-composer Dr. John. He has 10 albums under his name, most recently Bobby Broom Plays for Monk (Origin, 2009). Greg Rockingham, from Waukegan, Illinois, has been on bandstands since he was a pre-teen, including a decade spent working with Earland. Chris Foreman, born blind in Chicago, has played with such marquee artists as bluesman Albert Collins and the Mighty Blues Kings.

"We listen to each other," says Foreman of the trio's chemistry. "Some things we don't even talk about. If you don't talk about it so much and just let the music happen, then it happens."

Performance opportunities outside of Chicago have been coming the trio's way in recent years. Since 2008, Deep Blue has opened numerous concert dates for pop icon Steely Dan in the U.S. and Canada. A long-overdue New York City debut for the trio is scheduled for 8/8 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, and a European tour is now being booked for the fall.

"The Deep Blue Organ Trio has been working hard for a really long time," says Broom. "We do it because it's what we feel for and believe in. It's exciting to think about being able to continue with more success and reaching wider audiences."

Deep Blue Organ Trio Web Site:

www.deepblueorgantrio.com

[GA Russell]

The street date for this one isn't till next Tuesday, but I heard the Jesus Children of America track on Sirius this afternoon, and liked it.

[Lazaro Vega]

What a groove on Jesus Children of America.

The pockets they find throughout the album are striving for originality, a nice change of pace on a recent "straight ahead" jazz organ record.

[GA Russell]

Their album Folk Music is on spotify, but this one isn't yet. I've listened to the whole thing now, and it's a keeper.

[Dave James]

Nice write-up today from Marc Myers at JazzWax about this release.

http://www.jazzwax.com/

[Jim Alfredson]

I just received this album in the mail. I'll preface my comments by saying that I respect all the players involved, especially organist Chris Foreman who is is fantastic player. That said, the record is not really doing anything for me. There's nothing wrong with it but that's kind of the problem; it's extremely standard fare. No risks being taken, no twists or turns, no surprises and the playing, while fine, frankly seems a bit uninspired. I can't really see myself listening to it more than once. I didn't care for their last records either, so maybe the problem is a failure to transfer their live presence to CD. I have seen them live several times and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.

The fact that it is #2 on the JazzWeek charts is a little disheartening to me, to be honest. But such is the state of jazz and blues radio today.

[Sundog]

I just received this album in the mail. I'll preface my comments by saying that I respect all the players involved, especially organist Chris Foreman who is is fantastic player. That said, the record is not really doing anything for me. There's nothing wrong with it but that's kind of the problem; it's extremely standard fare. No risks being taken, no twists or turns, no surprises and the playing, while fine, frankly seems a bit uninspired. I can't really see myself listening to it more than once. I didn't care for their last records either, so maybe the problem is a failure to transfer their live presence to CD. I have seen them live several times and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.

The fact that it is #2 on the JazzWeek charts is a little disheartening to me, to be honest. But such is the state of jazz and blues radio today.

Ditto. I've listened to this 4 times in the last week and it's just not doing anything for me (I was kind of reluctant to post anything since I didn't want to turn anyone off to this release). I love their first two albums but they have kind of lost their momentum IMO. A missed opportunity.

[danasgoodstuff]

Me three, kinda/sorta - got it & liked it ok but I think I'd rather hear Bobby b play Layla...

[Jim Alfredson]

The last organissimo record didn't crack into the Top 40 on JazzWeek and, though I may be a bit biased, I think it's a far more energetic and original set of music. That's kinda what bums me out. I mean, I'm happy for these guys and any success they have, but I just find their recorded output to be, on the whole, very predictable. And I hate saying that because as I mentioned I respect them all as great players (and even better people... really sweet, down to earth guys).

It's like Joey D. I love the guy, he's the baddest organist out there, but I want to sit him down and say "Man, do SOMETHING! Go crazy! Make a record that is completely wild!" I don't want to hear re-hashed Jimmy Smith licks for 60+ minutes. That's why I love Dr. Lonnie Smith. His last record didn't always work, but he's taking risks, trying new things, stretching the format. And there's always a fire underneath his music.

[danasgoodstuff]

Listened to Wonderful again last night, was digging it OK til I just kinda got bogged down in it 'bout half way through. Put on Bobby Broom's Modern Man (on Delmark) with Idres, Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber and their version of "superstion" totally did it for me, as did hearing them do Layla with Cuber playing the familiar guitar lick, YMMV, etc.

Edited September 12, 2011 by danasgoodstuff

[Jim Alfredson]

Dr. Lonnie pushes people. I love the way he plays and can identify him instantly.

[GA Russell]

...That said, the record is not really doing anything for me. There's nothing wrong with it but that's kind of the problem; it's extremely standard fare. No risks being taken, no twists or turns, no surprises and the playing, while fine, frankly seems a bit uninspired. I can't really see myself listening to it more than once.

I think you guys are being a little too hard on the album. I hadn't listened to it since the week it came out (which I figured said something right there). So I put it on today, and had it on in the background. From that perspective, I thought it was fine. I enjoyed their last album Folk Music a lot more, so in comparison this one is a little disappointing. But as background music I think it is just right, and there are many times when background music is what I need.

Edited September 29, 2011 by GA Russell