Hammond Street (CD)

Hammond Street is a groovy and jazzy trio album, recorded in Los Angeles, USA in January 2006 by the Danish saxophone player Benjamin Koppel, the Hammond organ player Larry Goldings and the drummer Bill Stewart.

Hammond Street is the street where everything happens. It crosses Sunset Boulevard where the jet set cruise in their big American cars and the stars of Hollywood is out to be seen.

The great sound of the B3 Hammond organ is played by the sublime master of the instrument, Larry Goldings. He is known for his cooperation with among others John Scofield, James Taylor and Maceo Parker. In the 1950’s and the 1960’s Jimmy Smith began to play jazz on the B3 Hammond Organ and Larry Goldings has since then developed his very personal style of playing. His play is extrovert and has a modernistic style – inspired by both free jazz and funk music.

Benjamin Koppel has a very special relationship to the B3 Hammond Organ. His father, Anders Koppel (founding member of the beat and rock band Savage Rose), is a very talented organ player. Benjamin Koppel used to be with his father on tour, so he has been listening to the instrument from his early childhood. Benjamin Koppel is playing with several international jazz musicians and his compositions have been recorded by names like Daniel Humair and Phil Woods.

Goldings and Koppel are accompanied by Bill Stewart on drums. He is a true New Yorker with a great character who has played and recorded with names like John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Pat Metheny.

Benjamin Koppel has composed the majority of the titles on Hammond Street. It is blues inspired jazz – swinging and grooving. The desert just outside the city of Los Angeles has been giving inspiration to the titles Ostrich Itch, that has themes from the west coast fusion, and Armadillo Race based on the afro jazz groove in 6/8. The titles lead the thoughts to the dusty desert, the car races across the American continent and the race for the specially trained armadilloes. 

Benjamin Koppel - alto sax

Larry Goldings - hammond organ

Bill Stewart - drums