Those Were The Days

Reviewed: 2018-06-15
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Terrific bop release. For his 8th release as a leader, everything about this recording smacks of a scrupulous efficiency. This begins with his judicious use of an organ trio format augmented with a percussionist not unlike that employed in the 1950s and '60s Blue Note organ blowing dates. Organist Kyle Koehler is splendidly emotive and orchestral, framing Weldon's muscular and exacting tenor tone with a soft glow, propelled by the gentle loping rhythm of drummer Colby Inzer.
If You Like: Lou Donaldson, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Smith
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Love Won't Let Me Wait (6:12) – organ starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> organ solo> uptempo jam mellows to midtempo> crescendo end
2/ Strangers In The Night (5:54) – organ starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> organ solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
*3/ Sunny V (6:40) – sax starts> midtempo jam> sax solo swings uptempo> uptempo jam> organ solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end & fade
4/ Where Is Love (4:32) – organ starts> slow jam> sax solo> slow jam & fade
**5/ Rosetta (6:38) – drums start> uptempo jam> sizzling sax solo> organ solo> drum solo> uptempo jam> crescendo & quick fade
6/ Walk On By (5:53) – organ starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> organ solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
*7/ This Is Always (4:04) – sax starts> slow jam> slow fade
**8/ The Sermon (8:33) – organ starts> rocking uptempo jam> swinging organ solo> muscular sax solo> whaling drum solo> uptempo jam lowly mellows to midtempo & fades
*9/ Those Were The Days (8:23) – organ starts slow> slow jam> sax solo swings to midtempo jam> organ solo swings to uptempo jam & slows to midtempo & fades