Album Notes

Jeff Hackworth isn\'t as well-known or experienced as Newman, but he wields a mean tenor that\'s reminiscent not only of Fathead in his prime but also of prominent soul/blues spokesman from Illinois Jacquet and Lockjaw Davis to Stanley Turrentine and Houston Person. Hackworth has chosen the perfect means of expression for his soulful voyages-the organ trio - with Jones and Leech in the role of steadfast traveling companions. Hackworth\'s technique and concepts are impressive; as for his clean muscular sound, if you\'ve heard Jacquet, Turrentine or the others, you\'ve heard Hackworth. Turrentine is represented as well by his composition, \"Ciao, Ciao,\" which closes the session. Leading to that are three plain-spoken originals by Hackworth, the standards \"Love Letters,\" \"The Breeze and I\" and \"Prisoner of Love\" and one of the songs for which Louis Armstrong is most warmly remembered, \"What a Wondeful World.\" Besides more intrepid blowing by Hackworth, Lecuona\'s \"Breeze,\" played con brio, includes an exciting solo by Jones and sharp stickwork by Leech. Hackworth then segues neatly into a soul-drenched \"Prisoner of Love\" which is quite removed from Perry Como\'s pop version from the \'50\'s.
Hackworth\'s insistently funky \"Hittin\' the Bricks\" precedes Turrentine\'s swaying bossa, \"Ciao, Ciao\" on which Jones again comes close to stealing the leader\'s thunder. If you\'re feeling stressed and need a quick and refreshing infusion of soul, this should do the trick.

Review from Cadence