Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Drummer Carl Allen and bassist Rodney Whitaker dip into soul and funk standards for their new disc, Work To Do (Mack Avenue), which is due out on May 5. Along with the Isley Brothers title track, their group also takes on such tracks as Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On.”
“Often times in jazz, people are afraid to like what they like,” Whitaker said. “People like funky stuff but they might be ashamed to admit it. Their jazz friends might look down on them for liking music with a groove or a gospel flavor or smooth jazz or avant garde. But the great musicians played all kinds of grooves. For us it was important to rearticulate that idea and not do only straight ahead but mix it all together because that is the scene we grew up in, where you played everything from ‘Mister Magic’ to ‘Satin Doll.’ It was all just jazz.”
Along with Allen and Whitaker, the group appearing on Work To Do includes pianist George Colligan, guitarist Rodney Jones, organist Dorsey Robinson, trumpeter Brandon Lee, saxophonist Kirk Whalum, trombonist Vincent Chandler and saxophonist Vincent Herring.
Details: mackavenue.com
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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