Classic organ soul-jazz material on Blue Note, in true blue breakbeats style: ‘Love Bug’ from 1969 shows organist Reuben Wilson in the best of moods. And with the very best instrumentation: whenever Grant Green is on a recording with his unmistakably funky blues licks, it becomes exceptional.

But of course, star trumpeter Lee Morgan, saxophonist George Coleman, who played in the Miles Davis Quintet from 1963 to 1964, and funky drummer Leo Morris, who performed beats for jazz bestsellers with Lou Donaldson, also guarantee a session that breathes soul, funk and jazz in an unmistakably groovy way. For Reuben Wilson, this is his second LP on Blue Note as a leader, and that was not a given in a time and environment filled with truly great organists. Not only can the man play like hell, but he also has a distinctive sound.

Unusually for an organist, Mr. Wilson doesn’t have many years of practice as a pianist to show for it, he started quite early right away with the Hammond B-3, moved from Pasadena to Los Angeles at 17 and played first in local clubs, together with George Freeman. But he developed his own style in New York, in countless sessions in which he made a name for himself and quickly played with jazz greats like Sam Rivers or Roy Haynes.

Thus, on ‘Love Bug’ you can hear a confident New York jazz combo, which shows very nicely the then-current level of creativity of Mr. Wilson, with all the magic that lies in Mr. Morgan’s beautiful tone, Mr. Coleman’s big and personal sound, the driving groove of Mr. Morris and the always exciting guitar playing of Mr. Green. Superb release!

Stefan Mohr