Jackie Ivory Live at Jack's Bar

You get the full deck of jazz cards on this album. Recorded live at Jack's Bar in San Francisco (established in 1932 and still going at the time of this release), Hammond B3 organist Jackie Ivory and his quartet do R&B, soul, and blues with some smooth jazz thrown in, just to let you know they can do it. Borrowing judiciously from Ben E. King, Junior Parker, and Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Ivory does as pleading a version of "Stand by Me" as one is ever likely to hear. Matters get very soulful as Booker T. & the MG's are recalled with a groovy, funky R&B version of "Green Onions," with the slangy guitar of Charles Garner and the honking Hal Singer-like sax of Edward Surgest all riding atop Ivory's B3. Garner gets in some well-placed vocals during the session. The slow dancers get a chance with "Saving All My Love for You," with Surgest's erotic sax setting the tone. But irrespective of what's being played, Ivory and group are having a fun time doing it. They have a way to make everything come out on the upbeat — happy and carefree. Jack's Bar must be a place where people expect to unwind, quaff a few, listen to some fine music, take a few turns around the dancefloor, and come away feeling good.