Greg Joseph Drop the Rock

July 10, 2023

Greg Joseph

Drop the Rock

Sunnyside

In what at times seems like our never-ending quest to bring you every possible variation of the classic jazz organ trio, we now present the trio of drummer/composer Greg Joseph, organist Larry Goldings, and guitarist Steve Cardenas in Joseph’s debut role as bandleader for Drop the Rock. The hand-picked trio is a dream team for Joseph. Goldings is certainly considered one of the very top Hammond B3 players and Cardenas consistently shines in trio settings. You may recall the outstanding 2022 trio recording (w/ bassist Ben Allison and woodwind ace Ted Nash) of the music of Carla Bley that we covered on these pages, Healing Power. Together this trio brings the bluesy, boogaloo kind of material we expect from such a unit as well as a few surprises. Keyboard wizard Henry Hey produced Joseph’s first foray as a leader. Joseph has two originals and a co-write with Hey, Goldings contributes two, Hey chips in with one, and the covers are respectively from Ray Charles and Joni Mitchell.

Goldings penned the opening “Mozam-BBQ,” a part boogaloo, part swing tune with plenty of space for Joseph to show his kit work. A culinary term also highlights the soul number, “Saute” from Henry Hey, a funky but steady slow burn with Cardenas getting in his share of unhurried licks as Joseph keeps it rock steady. “Nina’s Lullaby” is even slower, a delicate simmer that’s improvised from a tune that Joseph’s daughter used to sing to her pet. Goldings displays complete command of the organ here in church-like style, trading lines with Gardenas and providing a calm underpinning. Goldings’ swinging, Latin tinged “Paco’s Theme” is presumably a nod to the great guitarist Paco de Lucia.

The trio gets bluesy again in the shuffle “Ain’t That Love” that nods to Ray Charles – a classic organ trio sound with Cardenas’ guitar and Goldings’ organ alternately stating the vocal melody. In the most surprising turn, they interpret a seldom covered Joni Mitchell tune, “In France They Kiss On Main Street,” again with Gardenas and Goldings sharing and improvising off the catchy theme. Joseph introduces the title track which is based on 3/2 clave pattern, funky and syncopated much like music from The Meters or early Dr. Lonnie Smith – right in Goldings’ wheelhouse with Joseph giving his snares an exhaustive workout. Joseph dubbed the trio with the moniker The Right Back Trio, and goes out with its namesake, “The Right Back Blues,” a swing piece that gathers momentum as it unfolds with Cardenas’ rapid runs, Goldings’ galloping ride across the keys, and Joseph’s flourishes on the kit. It’s tunes like these that exemplify how well this trio has nailed the idiom of the classic organ trio sound.

Jim Hynes

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