Mitch Towne has worked as a keyboardist with a wide variety of top artists including Buddy Miles, Aloe Blacc, Terrace Martin (playing organ on his Grammy-nominated ‘Velvet Portraits’ album), Eric Gales, Tom Scott, Ryan Kisor, Matt Wilson, Dave Stryker, Jerry Bergonzi, and Joel Frahm and now he is here with his Hammond B3 leading his own trio accompanied by Tetsuya Nishiyama (guitar) and Jeffery Johnson (drums). Playing the bass with his left hand, Towne likes ot take the lead but is also content to let Tetsuya also provide some delicate solos which means this is an album which the listener really relaxes into. It is not aggressive, yet also not too delicate and refined, managing just to keep it away from the soft lounge style so beloved of many organ players, and a great part of that is due to the dynamic drumming of Johnson who pushes hard at times, becoming delicate at others.
While we do get some blues shuffles, what makes this interesting is the way the three musicians combine with the use of space to create arrangements which are somehow robust and strong yet refined and gossamer as well. It is an album where the strength really only comes through when it has been played a few times, as the more it is listened to the more one can understand what the trio were attempting to achieve in a manner which takes us back in time to when the world was a somewhat simpler place. Apart from “Steepian Faith”, which is by the late pianist Kenny Kirkland, all are Towne originals, and this is well worth discovering for those who enjoy their jazz to be mellow and easy to follow.
Rating: 7/10