The sound of a Hammond B-3 swinging away with
a prime rhythm section and a big-toned, soulful tenor sax
conjures images of a small bar a few steps below street level
that’s always dark. When you walk in, thick clouds of
smoke and the heady smell of alcohol greet you, and as your
eyes grow accustomed to the dark you see the denizens of this
subterranean dive nodding their heads to the music as they
smoke, drink, and chat each other up. Glancing toward the
stage you see the band that’s creating the groove-filled
soundtrack to this scene. Suddenly a gorgeous blonde broad
steps behind the microphone, and you hear her voice, dripping
with the blues, open up on the words of “My, How the
Time Goes By.”
That’s the atmosphere you get listening
to singer Janis Siegel’s latest CD, Friday Night
Special. Of course, Siegel’s performances here
run the gamut from funky soul-jazz to romantic ballads, but
the feeling of listening to a late night set in a small club
is maintained throughout. Janis Siegel has demonstrated her
ability to successfully take on a wide range of musical styles
all through her career, and she doesn’t falter on this,
her seventh solo recording. Whether soaring on “Ill
Wind,” saluting Peggy Lee in the ending moments of “My
Love Is/My Babe,” or offering an intimate reading of
“You Don’t Know Me” she is right on the
money, her voice as clear and beautiful as ever.
Of primary importance to any organ/tenor group
are the organist and tenor saxophonist, and Siegel, along
with her producer Joel Dorn, has come up with the best. Joey
DeFrancesco, whose effortless way with the Hammond is genetically
encoded, always has the right accent for the right spot in
every one of these charts: just listen to his introduction
to “Let It Be Me.” The huge tenor sound belongs
to Houston Person, who was there for the original groove jazz
movement of the late ‘60s. Person played in organist
Johnny “Hammond” Smith’s combo and continued
to use organ in his groups right into the 1980s. His playing
is reminiscent of Gene Ammons or Illinois Jacquet, and his
sound is the perfect match for Siegel as he plays underneath,
around, and right alongside her voice. Also along for the
ride are drummer Buddy Williams, who keeps the group grooving,
and guitarists Peter Bernstein and Russell Malone. Malone’s
backing on “You Don’t Know Me” demonstrates
what a sensitive player he is.
As closing time nears, Siegel and her group
offer up a swinging version of “Misty.” Person
and DeFrancesco both offer solos that make you want to holler
out your support, and Siegel sings with such ease that you
surely won’t remember those troubles you left at the
door on your way in. Janis Siegel and company don’t
offer anything too heavy or ponderous, just a great set of
music that swings like there’s no tomorrow. Isn’t
that what Friday night is all about?
