Larry Goldings Trio

Sweet Science

Palmetto Records, Inc. PM2084

Larry Goldings, organ; Peter Bernstein, guitar; Bill Stewart, drums

Oh, boy, were we ever happy to receive this one. Three exceedingly fine musicians who don't put a foot wrong individually, and they keep in step all the way through this selection. The funkiness - you'd have your work cut out to make an organ sound un-funky - is conveyed with a musical expertise that will lay the ghost of all fears of rowdiness. Goldings is a pianist who has taken to the organ as few others of this generation, and Stewart and Bernstein are perfect in support. Stewart's own wittily titled "Think Before You Think" (with Mark Cohen, Joe Lovano and Dave Holland) is credentials enough, and he gets called so often he may wish that someone would invent an inflatable drum kit. Bernstein has reversed roles with Goldings as leader in the past and is a guitarist much in demand among the post-bop crowd. This is part of where Jazz has arrived at. One's wife refers to yours truly as "The Old Man And The CDs", which means that these guys are all younger than your reviewer by around twenty years and one is taken forward and somewhat away from the Standards book (although R & H's "Spring Is Here" and Bacharach's "This Guy's In Love" are lovingly featured) without relinquishing their Jazz roots. An often cooking set. Pretty laid-back, relaxed, with some pertinent and beautifully executed solos, and some fine writing. As good as it gets. Highly recommended.

by Lawrence Brazier

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