James Harrell McGriff is one of the more notable jazz organists to hail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While McGriff has been working professionally since the very early '60s, he has been quite prolific of late, coleading a small combo with alto player Hank Crawford. On "Straight Up," McGriff is joined by veteran soul-jazzers like David "Fathead" Newman on tenor saxophone and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums. Highlights here include a shuffling rendition of the Isley Brothers' classic "It's Your Thing," and Sonny Rollins's composition "Oleo." McGriff's bluesy organ style is energetic and often comes straight from his work with the church. Amid the covers and original tunes, McGriff and company also embrace standards like "It Had to Be You" and Johnny Mercer's beautiful ballad "Dream." --Mitch Myers
Straight Up,Jimmy McGriff,Milestone,Jazz,Jazz Blues,Jazz Music,Pop,Soul-Jazz
Jazz Music:
- Swing Classics in Stereo/Put on Your Dancing Shoes [Import]
- Swing Piano Bar: 1921-1941
- Swingin' Affair
- Take a Picture [Import] [Extra tracks]
- Technicolour Biography
- That's My Kick/Gemini/Magician/Gershwin & Kern/Dreamstreet/One World Concert/Now Playin [Box set]
- The Best of Art Farmer
- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings [Box set]
- The Gap [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]
- The Golden Trumpet Of
Jazz Music
Spotlighting the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra
Their Most Beautiful Ballads [Import]
Very Best of Moon Martin [Import]