Matt Chandler (guitar); Ross Stanley (Hammond); Eric Ford (drums).(Review by Lance).
Organ Trios aren't meant to be listened to in semi-suburban three up two downs. They should be heard live in downtown juke joints where the cabaret is a Saturday night knifing after somebody done somebody wrong whilst fuelled with Jack Daniels or Jim Beam.
To make up for the lack of the above essentials I opened up a can of Hobgoblin ale (4.5%), made sure the knife drawer in the kitchen was locked, turned up the volume and played the album.
Suddenly, my semi-detached was transformed into The Chicken Shack and it was game on. Chandler, whose awards include the 2011 Blue Noize Blues Guitar Competition, like any organ trio guitarist worth his salt, incorporates blues and jazz with maybe a hint of funky soul into his playing. He moves around the genres without losing identity. It's music for today, yesterday and tomorrow.
Ross Stanley is among the top UK Hammonders and he gels with Chandler and Ford and, even if he doesn't do too many forearm smashes, he's still on the money throughout.
Ford drives it along nicely, going for the jugular when the heat is on.
In case you're wondering about the title it's an anagram of Matt, Ross and Eric and is also something to do with Star Trek although, fortunately, it doesn't show.
If you're a fan of organ trios then this is for you. If you're not then maybe you will be after listening to the album which was released last Friday (May 26) on 33 Jazz Records. The launch is at London's Jazz Café Polsk next Saturday (June 3).
Lance.
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