CD Review: Keith Oxman - East of The Village

Keith Oxman (tenor); Jeff Jenkins (B3); Todd Reid (drums).

(Review by Lance).

The organ trio has long been an integral part of the music. Sometimes frowned upon by purists but loved by others - myself included.

A tenor player in full flight, goosed along by an A1 B3 merchant and a driving drummer is a good place to be and, here we have those essential ingredients in one package.

Once again, I wonder where they will click outside of their Denver base. In a perfect world, they'd be touring the globe and, if they ever hit Newcastle upon Tyne, they'd be a natural for the Jazz Coop's Globe HQ. Not to mention Sage Gateshead, Hoochie, The Caff and all jazz venues between Newcastle and (including) Ronnie's.

Oxman's one of those lyrical tenor players whom, you sense, could honk a tune to Hell and back. He swings here without the honking element usually associated with organ trios and, instead, takes a sensitive ballad like Jimmy Van Heusen's Deep in a Dream and makes it his own. Jenkins handles the B3 with respect and doesn't subject Hammond's pride and joy to too many forehand smashes.

Apart from kicking ass, drummer Reid also provides a composition - A Vaunt Guard. Sax and drums give it a workout and Jenkins tidy's it all up.

Walkin' My Baby Back Home is shown the respect this great tune deserves. The trio just, kinda, stroll through it - I think Nat Cole would have approved.

Listen to Lucky to be me and you will have a better definition of lyricism than you'll find in Mr Webster's dictionary.

An absolute delight. This isn't a tenor man walkin' the bar, but a swinger who doesn't need the elevation to get across.

Recommended.

Lance.

Keith Oxman - East of The Village now available on Capri Records.

Buy/sample.