Akiko Tsuruga - St.Louis Blues

Styles: Hammond Organ
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:06
Size: 147,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:27)  1. Funky Mama
(6:34)  2. Time is Money
(5:51)  3. I'm Walking
(4:58)  4. What Now My Love
(5:44)  5. Tell Me About It
(6:21)  6. Cry Me A River
(5:40)  7. St.Louis Blues
(5:41)  8. Strike Up The Band
(5:32)  9. Thrill is Back
(5:17) 10. Can You Do That?
(5:56) 11. The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder with the Best American Players. After releasing two previous albums under the M & I label, Tsuruga's third release is her first with the MOJO label. A hard worker, she has grown and improved with each of her recordings, and this album places her as a jazz organist together with the elite American players. As her career has flourished in the States, it seems that she has perhaps gained a new confidence in her abilities. Her playing is deep, soulful, and reminiscent of the African-American legends of the jazz organ; while her record of performances in New York is remarkable, including engagements at many jazz clubs. 

She is now planning a U.S. tour with Lou Donaldson and Grady Tate, who have both been taken with her playing. As a general rule, tenor sax and guitar fit nicely with jazz organ, and this is how this recording is set up. Here, she is joined by the soulful tenor of Houston Person, guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Bernard Purdie. These are the best musicians she has recorded with yet. Tsuruga's lively organ is not outdone by Person's veteran tenor sax, in fact she often sounds as if she is taking the lead in the group. Displaying her affinity for players like Jack McDuff, she plays a singing, earthy organ that sounds like it's coming straight out of Harlem. Funky Mama, St. Louis Blues, Strike up!and The Thrill is! are especially tasty. Track #3 and #10 are wonderful originals.

~ Yozo Iwanami   

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7763622&style=music&fulldesc=T

Personnel:  Vince Ector – Drums; Eric Johnson – Guitar; Houston Person – Tenor Sax; Bernard Purdie – Drums; Akiko Tsurunga – Hammond B3

St.Louis Blues