Peter Fraize
Organic Matter
Most latter-day soul jazz organ groups do their best to sound as if it is still 1960. Their organist pays constant homage to Jimmy Smith, the saxophonist hints strongly at Stanley Turrentine, the guitarist sounds a bit like Grant Green or Kenny Burrell, and the drummer swings in the background a la Grady Tate. The resulting music is fun but predictable.
Saxophonist Peter Fraize's quartet makes it clear throughout Organic Matter that this is the 21st rather than the 20th century. The leader, splitting his time between tenor and alto, often takes wailing solos that take the music almost over the edge. He is certainly aware of the avant-garde explorations of the past 40 years along with such sound innovators as Michael Brecker and David Sanborn, and he has carved out his own sound and style beyond his historical predecessors.
Organist Greg Hatza and guitarist Mike Pavone both also have developed their own musical identities, no mean feat considering the giants who have preceded them in playing soul jazz and hard bop. Hatza and Pavone have very complimentary sounds that blend together quite well, particularly when Fraize is soloing. Drummer Marty Morrison is more active than the soul jazz drummers of the past, and he is never shy to push the music forward with colorful outbursts.
The eight Peter Fraize originals on the Organic Matter are both traditional (particularly in some of their chord changes) and unpredictable in their themes. A good example is “Rhythm Schtick” which, during its melody statement, barely seems to use a chord structure at all before resolving into the changes of “I Got Rhythm” during the solos. While a couple of the other tunes are blues-based, most of the others use unusual structures, including the soulful ballad “Cradle Rocked.” And while the quartet sometimes gets a bit funky, the music is never predictable. The musicians consistently stimulate each other, and one can only imagine how exciting it would be to see this group in a club.
Organic Matter has plenty of exciting moments and is easily recommended.
Scott Yanow, author of ten jazz books including Bebop, Jazz On Record 1917-76, and Jazz On Film