Search - Don Patterson :: Genuius of B-3

Bold album title but Patterson shines....

Terje Biringvad | Oslo, Norway | 03/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Besides being a great solo recording artist between 1963 - 1978 on the Cadet, Prestige and Muse labels, the late Don Patterson has been more recognized by the general jazz audience by his considerable Hammond B-3 organ bop oriented support to the many great Sonny Stitt albums in the `60's. A quick check on Allmusic.com, Patterson's legacy is preserved on 18 solo albums (not yet all released on CD or never will??) and his first recording on Muse Records is gem from A to Z. "Genius of the B-3" from 1972 is a quartet set up with Eddie Daniels on saxophones and flute, Ted Dunbar on guitar and Freddie Waits behind the drum set. Patterson's own dedication to senator Jesse Jackson opens the album - a blues drenched tune articulated well by guitarist Dunbar, tough tenor lines by Daniels and finally Patterson demonstrates his swift and mellow right hand melody lines. The not-to-often played Neil Hefti tune by jazz organists - "Theme from the Odd Couple" - is showcased on soprano sax by Daniels and with great solos and interplay between guitar and organ. "Theme from Love story" in a latin beat? Works well when Patterson hits the romance sound in his organ lines, greatly supported by Dunbar. Too soon there's an ending to this album, so what not round off in a low lamp mood of the great classic "The Lamp Is Low". Dunbar's mellow guitar lines together with Patterson's fire place organ overlooked by Daniels' Tranish melody lines on tenor sax, makes this album a great value for money. The only down side - the album is currently out-of-print but still in circulation at a modest price. Highly recommended."