hammondexpress

If you shiver everytime you hear a Hammond organ twirl, possibly played by Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Larry Young or Booker T., then you’re not one to miss the Rendez-Vous with Hammond Express.

Even if you prefer to lie down on the pool side tasting your favourite cocktail, accompained by the perfect samba-lounge courtesy of brasilian organist Walter Wanderley, then you’ll love the easy sounds of Hammond Express.

In other words, if you’re a romantic hobo who loses himself in Phase Four vinyl records and their Hammond cover versions of Burt Bacharach songs, or if you get excited with a modernist mix of house breaks, vintage samples, flute and flugelhorn solos, organ and Moog twirls, then Rendez-Vous is definitely the album for you.

Born as a new-lounge compilation, the Hammond Express debut album, released by the italian label Scenario Music, is a futuristic trip into dance jazz, through spy-movie soundtracks (“Modern City Blues”), sci-fi atmospheres (“Space”), ‘70’s bossa nova (“Bossa Rouge – Vibrato Mix”) and easy-listening evergreens, like the Carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun”.

Not the usual Hammond combo, but something modern for a “future lounge” party with a psychedelic touch.

At the Hammond organ (and many other vintage keyboards, plus acoustic guitar) sits Francesco Gazzara, already known as leader of his own group GAZZARA, and author of the book “Lounge Music: Il Blues Dell’Uomo Bianco”. With him, on board of the Hammond Express, there’s bass player Massimo Sanna (founder member of GAZZARA). Special guests on Rendez-Vous are cuban flute maestro Eduardo Piloto Barreto and flugelhorn player Giovanni Di Cosimo. Hammond Express started in 1999 as a recording act releasing three songs for label Irma Records (“Capricorn Soul”, “Ass Enchillada”, “Batucada Express”), included in three different compilations (“Ultradolce Vol.1”, “Irma Cocktail Lounge”, “Ultradolce Vol.2”). Their debut album for Scenario Music contains 14 new tracks and is inspired by many live sets played as a duo, with a tight sound reminiscent of the London club scene of the late ‘60’s. Keep On Burning! But don’t forget to get off at the next stop by Hammond Express.