CD Review: Mike Arroyo Jazz Organ Trio - Full Circle.

Mike Arroyo (gtr); Kyle Koehler (org); Vince Ector (dms).
(Review by Lance)

Think organ you think Church or Jazz - like, er, one or the other -  not both. This is different the Mike Arroyo Jazz Organ Trio take that difference all the way to the steps of the altar!

It works!

Most of the tunes are of religious origin - What a Friend we Have in Jesus, I Belong to Jesus, The Old Rugged Cross etc.

Possibly off putting to even believers, let alone non believers and sceptics, I wasn't sure what to expect. I love Jimmy Smith's The Sermon but this seemed to be nearer to the Sermon on The Mount!

Quite the contrary! A fine Jazz Organ Trio record that can be judged irrespective of beliefs. They may be praising The Lord - Hallelujah! but to me it's just another groovy organ trio that that would be equally at home in a downtown bar in Chicago as in the Breñas Community Church where Puerto Rican guitarist Arroyo became a Pastor in 2006.

On B3 Koehler demonstrates the influence of Jimmy Smith but he also does it his way. Voted a rising star in Down Beat - Koehler is heading to be, with or without the help of The Lord, a name to reckon with on two keyboards and a set of pedals. Ector knows his way around the kit and experience gained with Heath, Hubbard, Moody and Weston brings more manna to the table

An absolute groove. If this band was playing at our local Sunday morning Shindig I'd be there!

Amen.

Lance.
Check the CD out here.