Jermaine Landsberger and Paulo Morello: Hammond Eggs

Hammond B3 specialist Jermaine Landsberger and fellow German, guitarist Paulo Morello, have played together for over a decade, since their first gig in 1990 in the village of Maxhutte, Bavaria, where they both lived. Morello is one of Germany's finest jazz guitarist and Landsberger—who comes from a German Gypsies Sinti musical family lineage—is a modern jazz keyboardist originally influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt. It's been written that these two talented European jazz artists go so well together just like ham and eggs for breakfast, which explains the unusual restaurant sign CD Cover.

Hammond Eggs documents their very first recording together, collaborating on a varied selection of music that includes some blues, modern jazz, a touch of boogaloo and funk. Landsberger dedicates the album to the memory of Kosta Lukacs—a guitarist of German/Hungarian Gypsy descent. The co-leaders bring fellow Germans, tenor saxophonist Peter Weniger and drummer Dejan Terzic into the mix, completing a dynamic quartet that ably performs five originals, several cover tunes and two Lukacs compositions.

The Landsberger title track opens the music showcasing the two musicians as they play off each other quite well demonstrating why they are such a perfect fit. The Lukacs piece "Latin Movin,' " features exquisite solos from every member of the band on the first of many notable tunes. One of the other standout numbers, is the other Lukacs composition "Song for My Little Daughter," a delicate piece of music containing light chords from Morello on the lead as the organ remains tastefully in the background.

The classic Tadd Dameron song "If You Could See Me Now," is another highlight of the disc and a piece where both leaders show their appreciable chops. The oft-recorded Howard Dietz/ Arthur Schwartz standard "Alone Together," is provided with a challenging interpretation energized by the crisp guitar riffs and vibrant organ lines supplied by the duo. Though most of the music is up tempo and jumpy, "Bright Sky" provides the soft touch here with Terzic on the brushes and saxophonist Weniger playing warm and cozy, while both Morello and Landsberger apply a gentler approach.

Organist Jermaine Landsberger and guitarist Paulo Morello are two master chefs serving up quite a dish with Hammond Eggs. Essentially an album of rhythm-based music, this plate blends the sounds of the Hammond B3 organ and the jazz guitar in a potent cocktail of superb modern jazz.

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