Rusty Scott has recently dropped a third formidable jazz CD onto the greater-Boston music scene. Scott’s previous two efforts were piano CDs. This time around the instrumental jazz composer focuses on his Hammond B3 Organ and the results are just as brilliant and classy. Adding a whole new element of soulfulness and cool, The R&B colors behind these jazz compositions on The Thrill Is Gone expands on what can be done in both genres.“Mean Old Joe” composed by Scott isn’t a mean instrumental at all. There isn’t even a track of menace. Scott trades slow groove organ chords with Mayer’s louder, faster sax line. When Mele chimes in with guitar notes so precise, it is like a conversation, a dialogue of notes. The boys eventually jam on it with Brophy bringing a touch of old school bop.
On “I Can’t Remember” Mayer turns this one into a slow dance serenade with his seductive sax line. Scott’s soft touches make each organ note dance in a neat line, a faint trace of Memphis soul enough to make it highly meaningful.
Title track “The Thrill Is Gone” provides a hypnotic beat behind an exotic sax line. Drummer Dave Brophy definitely wants to keep you focused on his persistent beat. This anchors the subtle sax melody and organ chords in a line of artsy arrangement. The piece continues to evolve melodically, getting longer, larger, and the arrangement expands, letting that sax explore avenues of graceful soul.
Saxophonist Tim Mayer contributes his composition “Who Know?” to Rusty Scott’s CD, and it is a masterwork of challenging ensemble playing. Unison melody between sax and organ rush in and delight the ear. Organ and sax hit the same set of quick notes before bifurcating into amazing melody and counter melody, each instrument taking their sweet time strutting their flow of coolness.
Rusty Scott wrote a composition for this CD titled “Timmonizing” as an ode to the late great jazz pianist Bobby Timmons. Marked by breezy organ tinkling, single notes melody here works better for Scott than the swirling chords that he plays on the other tracks. Mike Mele slides in with a supple guitar melody before sax man Tim Mayer blows out a groove filled melody line on his golden horn before Mele comes back in a variation on his previous classy, subtle guitar line. Mele never fails to show different, interest shadings of the colors and tones with his subtle shifts. Drummer Dave Brophy fills in some spaces with brief solos that expand the sound of the tune, and he makes you appreciate the ensemble portions more by letting you hear the drum parts separately. Listeners will truly know the depth and the portability of the beat the rest are playing over.
“Funky Little Thing” grooves with a 1960s bebop feel, the sax line wrapping itself swiftly around that classic jazz beat. Mele’s guitar line is more also more rhythmical here and he his take on funky guitar allows more insight into both jazz and funk. “Lovers Layne” offers an interesting swing feel behind a modern jazz structure. Listeners can pick up on the World War II era big band influence and will likely appreciate the oldies feel.
Henry Mancini’s “What’s Happening?” was the theme music for the 1970s’ TV comedy program of the same name. Scott’s arrangement finds him getting funky on his low end organ notes and a follow up exchange between melody instruments thickens, widens this huge rhythmic element.
Bluesology is an interesting jazzy take on the blues genre and it is also another good showcase of four-piece’s ability to work together, each politely taking turns free styling around a movable beat. “Curly” is an organ groove mash up and “Chicken Pickin’” interprets the feel of that greasy southern fried guitar style.
Jazz fans in the greater-Boston area can do themselves a big favor by purchasing this CD and discovering a talent like Rusty Scott while he’s still young. Fans of R&B, soul, funk and the Hammond B3 should also find plenty in Scott’s The Thrill Is Gone CD.