MITCH TOWNE

REFUGE

Cross Towne Records

Mitch Towne, Hammond organ/composer; Tetsuya Nishiyama, guitar; Jeffery Johnson, drums.

It was the great Jimmy Smith who revolutionized the Hammond B3 organ in the mid-to-late 1950s. He introduced the organ sound and style to the jazz community. Below, see a flashback to Jimmy Smith playing with guitar legend Kenny Burrell.

Mitch Towne takes that example and runs with it. He has created his own mastery and creativity on the Hammond B3, playing all the bass lines with his left hand and busy feet on the pedals. Towne’s trio includes guitarist Tetsuya Nishiyama and drummer Jeffery Johnson. Together, they have an exciting and energetic sound, opening with a Towne original, “Wolverine.” It’s a tune that’s straight-ahead with a take-no-prisoners attitude. Nishiyama soars during his guitar solo. When Mitch Towne enters, he brings the ghost of Jimmy Smith with him. Veteran drummer Jeffery Johnson keeps the ‘swing’ in the music and the tempo tightly in place.

Mitch Towne can play it all. He’s worked with legends like Buddy Miles and Tom Scott to more modern-day players like Dave Stryker and Eric Gales. Towne has released other albums, including his Grammy-nominated “Velvet Portraits” album. In 2022, he formed his SRT group with Andrew Synowiec and John “J.R.” Robinson on drums.

On his brand new “Refuge” album, Mitch Towne features all original compositions except one tune written by the legendary Kenny Kirkland. The title tune swings hard and is soaked in the blues. The trio never loses their spunk and drive, no matter what tune they are playing. On the melodic “Better Now Than Never At All,” they slow the tempo down a bit, but the funk and splash of Johnson’s drums keep the energy alive and well. On “Ode to Kenny,” the trio reminds us how well a Hammond B3 can play the blues. This tune gives Nishiyama an opportunity to stretch out during his improvised guitar solo and shows us his soulful side. They close with “Act As If,” another straight-ahead tune that the trio presents with enthusiasm. All in all, this is a project that reflects the soulful and swinging tradition of organ jazz. The public release date is April 4, 2025.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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