JAZZ REVIEW : Organ Trio Plays Urban Blues

For many, the very essence of urban blues can best be heard coming from an organ trio. There is something unmistakably authentic and undeniably comforting in that sound created by the worrying of the Hammond B-Three, the steady beat of the drums and the soulful whining of the electric guitar.

That distinctive sound was done one better at the Strand in Redondo Beach on Wednesday night when Hank Crawford added his alto saxophone to an organ trio featuring the formidable Jimmy McGriff. Blues was the order of the evening, and the inspired teaming of Crawford and McGriff couldn’t have been in better order.

“Oh man, it’s fun--that full sound with the organ,” said a smiling Crawford after the opening set. “I just love it.”

So did a small but enthusiastic crowd.

Crawford and McGriff have been touring together for better than two years now. Though they each lead their own groups on the road and on record, it is in this setting that they seem to have found a comfortable niche for some straight-ahead blowing. The music couldn’t be simpler or more effective.

The group, which featured the rock-steady drumming of Michael Baker and the inspired guitar of Bob Devo, offered five untitled blues tunes and one ballad during an hour-long opening set. Though all of the blues tunes were similar in structure, variations were offered by way of rhythmic settings (slow, shuffle, funk) and, of course, melodic invention by Crawford, McGriff and Devo.

Crawford commanded a remarkably full sound from the alto, frequently playing in a range and with a tone more befitting a tenor. He played terse solos without shorting any tune of its full melodic worth. McGriff showed himself to be equally economical in his approach to both melodic invention and harmonic support. Guitarist Devo followed suit but showed great chops in a pair of extended solos.

Crawford and McGriff return to the Los Angeles area in mid-January for a two-night stint at Marla’s Memory Lane.