Forgotten series: Hammond Street 4: A Funky Selection of Organ Grooves (2009)

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This fourth volume in a unique series from Acid Jazz Records does not disappoint, collecting contemporary, mostly British groups performing instrumentals on Hammond organ with a Leslie Speaker. Imagine 1960s organ-and-drums duo doing Hardin and York’s instrumentals circa 1969, and you’ve got this compilation’s sound down pat.

Hammond Street 4: A Funky Selection of Organ Grooves covers the era from 1986 through 2009, beginning with Sweden’s Trummer and Orgel who jumpstart the album with their own secret-agent themed “Under Cover.” England’s James Taylor Quartet — not the 1970s American singer/songwriter — apparently revived this whole genre again back in ’86. He’s represented with just one jazzy cut, the lively “One Way Street.”

Les Cappuccino deconstructs the Who’s “My Generation” so well that this new up-tempo jazz instrumental so well is almost unrecognizable. Twisted Toung’s “E.T. Boogie (B3 Boogie Mix),” even though it does sport a Hammond organ throughout, sounds out of place on this comp with its techno groove. I really liked Lord Large’s big-sounding, melodic “LBW” a lot.

Andy Lewis comes up with a swell theme song for an imaginary TV show, “Song for the Big Television.” Germany is represented by Illusion of Groove, with the funky “Ghost Trip” — which would not sound out of place on a Karminsky Experience or Thievery Corporation record. I can see people playing this at hip coffee shops, restaurants, and in cars for setting a mood, and maybe at some select clubs, too. Have fun with it!

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Steve Elliott