Love Notes Of Cole Porter

GENE LUDWIG: Love Notes of Cole Porter
Big O, 2011

ORGAN JAZZ – This is the final recording of Gene Ludwig, a grooving Hammond B-3 organist who had a solid career from the 1960s on. He was a pillar of the Pittsburgh jazz scene, but otherwise is known mostly by organ aficionados. This set, all Cole Porter tunes, shows that Ludwig still had a nice touch up top and solid bassline pedaling down below. The tracks featuring a quartet with tenor sax are generally stronger than the trios.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10

1. 6:30 – uptempo burner: sax comes out swinging, guitar cools it, organ twists
2. 6:51 – easy ‘n’ breezy: organ trips lightly, sax is soulful, guitar floats sweetly
3. 4:38 – classic swinger: nice singing guitar solo, sax glides, slippery organ
4. 7:20 – “intermission music” sound with a light latin beat; good organ solo though
5. 4:20 – insistent midtempo swing settles into an easy groove for flowing solos
6. 5:59 – daydreaming trio ballad: soap-opera organ lightens in solo, slow guitar
7. 4:34 – relaxed trio stroll: organ solo sticks to narrow riffs, easygoing guitar
8. 5:10 – nice lazy tune: soulful sax leads off, organ gets real comfortable
9. 5:21 – upbeat trio: keeps up a steady swing, organ sounds very loose
10. 7:49 – slow-dance trio, sways gently: sweet-toned guitar and organ solos

[ Fo ] 02/24/11