Hammond hero
Reuben Wilson's on Broadway – and he hits a massively soulful groove that's light years from the cliched sounds of the great white way! The set's one of the tightest cookers from
Wilson's early years on Blue Note – and has a vibe that's a bit different than the rest, thanks to some compelling rhythmic elements that push things past a Lou Donaldson groove, and more into that chunky approach to organ jazz that
Wilson would explore later on the Groove Merchant label. Most numbers have this back/
forth groove that's really wonderful – almost a rocking energy that has
Wilson laying in the pocket one minute, then bursting forth the next with some really tremendous work on the keys. Other group members are great too – and the quartet features tenorist Trevor Lawrence, guitarist Malcolm Riddick, and drummer Tommy Derrick – on tracks that include "Poincinana", "On Broadway", "Ronnie's Bonnie", "Ain't That Peculiar", and "Baby I Love You".