Another fine release from the Banger Factory that promises much more to come from the imprint, and indeed Artie Zaitz who has delivered up a strong debut album as leader of a superb combo.
Banger Factory Records BF005LP
Artie Zaitz (guitar); Ross Stanley (Hammond Organ); Steve Brown (drums); Dave Pattman (conga); Fausta Joly 9spoken word on ‘The Regulator’)
Having been greatly impressed by recent releases from the Banger Factory imprint recently I approached this debut album by guitarist Artie Zaitz with anticipation. The resulting music does not disappoint with forty minutes or so of grooving guitar and organ jazz that acknowledges where it came from, and more importantly knows where it is heading.
The guitarist is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and his love and respect of the great organ trios is clear to hear throughout this lively set. Not content to recreate the sound of yesteryear, Zaitz brings his Scofield influenced playing to bear on the material giving a contemporary feel to the music that is carried along superbly by Ross Stanley on Hammond and Steve Brown on drums.
Initially, I wasn’t convinced of Zaitz’s decision to add conga to the mix. As a fourth voice it seemed an odd choice, but of course during the course of the album the decision is proved to be a sound one. Pattman’s contribution is integral to the overall group sound and his playing is perfectly in tune with Steve Brown’s swinging drumming. No danger of either getting in each other’s way, and the combination is handled with much sensitivity and impeccable taste.
The material is a careful mix of four original compositions and two well-chosen pieces by Dizzy Gillespie and Harold Vick, and as a consequence the album sits comfortably as cohesive set. The opening tune by Artie sets the tone with a snappy beat and strong theme that the guitarist and Ross Stanley on Hammond get their teeth into. The title track opens with the spoken word from Fausta Joly before easing into a nice easy groove that again generates some fine solos, and ‘Boogaloo Ga Goo’ makes its presence felt with the guitarist’s gutsy and bluesy solo which is surely Zaitz’s most declamatory statement on record to date.
The two ‘standards’ are however the two standout tracks of the album with Zaitz’s gentle Latin influenced arrangement particularly impressive, and the excellent ‘Our Miss Brooks’ is taken at a gentle tempo and given an almost sensuous and smoldering reading by Zaitz in his solo. This little known gem by Harold Vick came from the tenorist’s debut album Steppin’ Out! recorded for Blue Note in 1963, and prompts an immediate checking out of the original.
The Banger Factory’s policy of releasing on vinyl and digital is a sound one, and yes, a bit of bias is coming in here as I particularly enjoy sitting down to listen to an LP as opposed to a CD, and there is a sense of history and nostalgia in the way the sleeve has a striking front cover musician credits and liner notes on the reverse.
Another fine release from the Banger Factory that promises much more to come from the imprint, and indeed Artie Zaitz who has delivered up a strong debut album as leader of a superb combo.
