James Carter Organ Trio - At The Crossroads (2011)

"The charismatic reeds virtuoso is at his earthiest with this classic Hammond organ trio lineup. Carter can be sumptuously romantic or exhilaratingly funky his technique embraces all kinds of extreme playing, from split-note multiphonic harmonies to staccato effects and he directs his full firepower at this mostly mainstream-groovy repertoire. His muscular tenor-sax tone and honking low notes barge through the opening swinger, "Oh Gee". He's majestic, yet abrasive on the smouldering "Aged Pain", and stomps and blasts in the basement register of the baritone sax on "The Walking Blues", after guest Miche Braden's chanting vocal. "Walking The Dog" brings the best out of the imaginative Hammond-player Gerard Gibbs." (John Fordham, Guardian) "In the course of a dozen numbers he plays four saxophones, from soprano to baritone, plus flute. He has phenomenal control of them all and a wonderful sense of swing, which he deploys with immense joie de vivre. It's exhausting but exhilarating." (Dave Gelly, Guardian)