The soul-sax sensation Nick Hempton continues on the organ-jazz roll he started with Night Owl in 2019. Slick is another entry from Hempton leading a killer quartet starting with Peter Bernstein on guitar with Kyle Koehler on organ and Fukushi Tainaka on drums.
Hempton likes to keep it real when it comes to making music, and not just with his choice of backing musicians. Slick was recorded live-to-tape, consistent with his conviction of capturing the band in the same spirit as a club date. That handmade way of doing things makes a difference, and that ol’ vintage greasy soul feel is the satisfying result. The opener “The Runaround,” for instance, immediately transports us back to Stanley Turrentine and those killer records he made for 60’s Blue Note in the 60s.
Pretty much every sub-style within the organ jazz format gets recognized here. “Upstairs Eddie” is just your basic, gratifyingly head-noddin’ blues shuffle. Hempton always make room for good ol’ straight-at-ya bebop in his repertoire, and “Short Shrift” is one of those songs where he gets to show off his big-time chops for that style. Bernstein and Koehler follow with smoldering asides of their own followed by call-and-response between the leader and Tainaka. Bernstein is the perfect guitarist to put in an organ combo and his tasteful licks on cuts such as for “Liar’s Dice” and “Fryin’ with Fergus” give the group formidable soloing beyond what’s already provided by Hempton.
The ballads get started with the ol’ standby “Born To Be Blue” and Hempton pours on the fervent mood via his tenor sax. Another ballad, “The Gypsy,” is delivered this time with the alto saxophone and Hempton makes that horn croon. Most of the songs in this group were penned by Hempton, but on a few occasions he picked an old melody with a timeless feel such as jaunty one underpinning “People Will Say We’re In Love.” It’s also an occasion for him to strut his stuff on alto sax, as well as on the boogaloo “Snake Oil.”
The soulful guitar/organ jazz thing is perfectly suited for a saxophone pedigree like Nick Hempton, and with Slick, he keeps those good vibes going. Slick is available now, from Triple Distilled Records.
