There's something about a purring, soul-jazzed organ trio that makes everyone feel good. Maybe it's the easy grooves, or the lack of "serious jazz" pretense, or simply the sublime Saturday-evening mood that pervades the classics of the genre, many of which were created by Hammond B3 master Jimmy McGriff. Along with another titan of the instrument, Lonnie Smith, who joins McGriff on several tracks, McGriff's House Party features R&B stalwarts Bernard Purdie on drums, Rodney Jones on guitar, and Bill Easley on tenor sax. You can be assured that this is a real fatback 'n' gravy dinner worth the wait. The title track bumps over a rumbling R&B groove propelled by superfunky guitar and snaking organ lines, and "Red Cadillac Boogaloo," written especially for this session by George Benson, is classic soul funk. "Neckbones à la Carte" is old-school funk à la King Curtis or Booker T, and "Blues for Stitt" is wailing, bar-walking swing with excellent solos all around (especially by tenor man Eric Alexander). "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" initially sounds like some corny wedding band, but glowing solos save it from a hackneyed standard. Occasionally, this excitable band sound a little under-rehearsed, but their goal of a spirited house party is still easily reached. After all, who cares if you spill some beer on the rug when the party is at full tilt? --Ken Micallef
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