Cory Scott Fawcett

Jackie McLean was a hard-bop alto saxophonist with a fiery tight tone, who recorded extensively in the ‘50s and ‘60s mainly with Blue Note Records. Although his forays with an organ was confined to two albums with Jimmy Smith Open House and Plain Talk, Cory Weeds’ decision to use an organ on this session does not stray off the mark. Condition Blue accomplishes the band’s intention, to acknowledge a saxophonist who had an exploratory vision. In a set list of either McLean originals, or compositions associated with him, this tight-knit band delivers the goods in firm, yet flexible style. The key players in this session in addition, to the cooly effective altoist Weeds, are Mike LeDonne, a B-3 player of energetic disposition, and creative guitarist Peter Bernstein. Also along is drummer Joe Farnsworth who is a propulsive player.

I came to the Hammond organ quite by accident. I was a pianist from an early age and moved to NYC after college in 1994. I had planned on becoming a hot shot pianist but was starving in the beginning. To make ends meet, I started taking Chitlin Circuit blues gigs with artists like Percy Strothers and Lee "Shot" Williams. I was just 21 years old and got my first credit card which I maxed out immediately getting what was brand new tech at the time; a portable Hammond XB2 and Leslie speaker which I was going to use on the tours. As I was unpacking the stuff when it arrived in my kitchen at 96 St. Marks Place in the East Village (The building on the cover of the Led Zeppelin album, Physical Graffiti), I got a call from Frank Bambera who is a great jazz and latin drummer to play at The St. Marks Bar on the corner of St. Marks and 1st Ave.