Decoy - Spirit CD

From Bo'Weavil... Decoy is UK-based Alexander Hawkins (pipe organ), John Edwards (bass), and Steve Noble (drums). The disturbing, distorted Hammond organ sound is a natural fit for a free-jazz combo. With a pedigree including low-cost church pipe organ substitute, novelty instrument (re: Walt Disney's "Blame It On The Samba," part of his 1948 animated film Melody Time, where a Carmen Miranda-ered Ethel Smith plays a Hammond as it's blown to bits by 'toon Aracuan) and jazz-cool tool bar-none courtesy of Smiths -- Jimmy and Dr. Lonnie -- McGriff, Patton, Young, et al, the B3 and Leslie cabinet's overblown bastard tones one minute toying, the next destroying, were made to play the freedom sound. Alexander Hawkins has a pipe organ background (which is the ideal grounding for the Hammond -- you can hear his churchy tones during this album's playout) and exploits the potential of the C3 to the full -- pulls out all the stops, in fact.

From the interstellar sounds of the opening "Outside In" and slick be-bopisms of "Decoy" to some fine spine-juddering scronches interspersed in "Shadows," rhythm team Noble and Edwards never let it rest as they interject, inject, impose, prompt, inspire, and kick-ass to make a proper sonic palette for the organ platform. It takes great players at the top of their game to play solo and rhythm at one and the same time without compromising either role and Noble and Edwards together are able to effectively lock down a groove over some truly inventive stretching of a traditionally-rigid instrument.