Gene
Ludwig
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Gene Ludwig
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Tradition, the handing down of customs, beliefs and stories from
generation to generation, runs especially strong among jazz organists.
They are a select crew, after all, piloting jazz’ Spruce Goose, the
technically marvelous Hammond B-3 organ, through the turbulence of time
and popular taste. It’s no easy feat, of course, coordinating hands and
feet, keys and pedals with mind and spirit. It’s no secret either
that, when done right, the Hammond beast soars like nothing else. Its
twists and turns, jives and grooves, speak, communicate and resonate
with you.
Yes, Jimmy, times are rough, man. Yes, Ms. Scott, let my soul ache a
while, won’t you. Yeah, Brother McDuff, I’m a little blue, today. Yes,
Big John, you know what I’m talkin’ about. Yeah, Gene, take me with
you. Yes, yes, yes! Academics call this “soul-jazz.” Fans
call it good music. Gene Ludwig calls it a career, a life’s work.
Playing the organ since 1958, Ludwig’s craft is an ongoing admiration
of masters who came before, of traditions, of truth. On this album,
produced by longtime associate Jack Kreisberg, as with Ludwig’s other
recordings, the names, the memories, the stories and the songs of the
great trailblazers abound. The playlist reads familiar enough, with
well-worn tales of love, sorrow and hope: “Love for Sale,” “Just
Friends,” “Flamingo,” “The Preacher,” “Well, You Needn’t,” “Gentle
Rain,” “Portrait of Jennie,” “I’ve Found a New Baby.”
With the stout support of guitarist Joe Lano, drummer Tommy Check and
special guest, Emedin Rivera on percussion, the music comes clean and
straight, mad with swing, pure in logic. Explaining it with words gets
academic and dry. We’ll let Gene explain it, let him take us on the
ride. It’s good music. Yes.
- Germein Linares, Managing Editor,
All About Jazz Los Angeles/Bay Area/Chicago
1. Love For Sale (9:04) 2. Just Friends (7:30) 3. Flamingo (9:12)
4. The Preacher (7:30) 5. Well You Needn’t (7:13) 6. Gentle Rain (8:15)
7. Portrait of Jennie (9:01) 8. I’ve Found A New Baby (7:31)
Hands
On
 Gene Ludwig has been called the country's most passionate exponents
of Jazz Organ. JAZZIZ hailed him as the "finest mainstream
jazz organ player alive." "Hands On" the follow up
to his critically acclaimed “The Groove ORGANization"
teams Gene up with some of Pittsburgh's finest jazz musicians: Gene
Ludwig (Hammond B-3 organ), Eric DeFade (tenor saxophone), Ken Karsh
(guitar), and Tom Wendt on drums. This cd confirms the fact that
Gene Ludwig keeps his "Hands On" his organ! Recorded at
Stargate Studios, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The
Groove ORGANization
 Last May, Jazziz magazine declared that Gene Ludwig "may be the
finest mainstream jazz organ player alive." In 1957 the Pittsburgh
native and then-pianist, inspired by organ pioneer Jimmy Smith,
decided to take up the Hammond B-3. Since then he has worked with
jazz giants like guitarists Pat Martino and Jerry Bird, saxophone
master Sonny Stitt, and singer Arthur Prysock, building a solid
reputation as a "musician's musician." Gene has recorded two previous
CDs for Blues Leaf, Back on the Track and Soul Serenade, and appears
on the new Red Holloway/Plas Johnson Milestone release, Keep That
Groove Going! Equally at home with r&b and straight-ahead jazz,
guitarist Bob DeVos knows how to compliment the Hammond B-3, having
appeared and recorded alongside such organ masters as Charles "The
Mighty Burner" Earland, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Jimmy McGriff.
He's also worked with saxophonists Sonny Stitt, Stanley Turrentine,
David "Fathead" Newman, and Houston Person, and singers Etta Jones
and Irene Reid, among many others. Drummer Billy James spent the
decade of the '60s performing in various combo settings with the
great organist Don Patterson. He arrived on the jazz scene in the
mid-1950s with Lionel Hampton, and has been the "drummer of choice"
for some of the toughest tenors in the business: Booker Ervin, James
Moody, Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Eddie
Harris, and Houston Person. - Bob Bernotas, Jazz journalist, New
York City
1. CHITLINS CON CARNE [5:45] (Tyrone G. Smith, Phenomena Music -
BMI) 2. ONE MINT JULEP [8:10] (Rudolph Toombs, Regent Music Corp./Unichapppell
Music - BMI) 3. STEP LIGHTLY [6:15] (Joe Henderson, EMI Unart Catalog
- BMI) 4. MOOD INDIGO [6:10] (Duke Ellington/Barney Bigard/Irving
Mills, Duke Ellington Music/EMI Mills Music/ Indigo Mood - ASCAP)
5. PAUSE FOR FRED'S CLAWS [4:46] (Bob DeVos, Devious Music - BMI)
6. BILLIE'S BOUNCE [5:39] (Charlie Parker, Atlantic Music Corp.
- BMI) 7. SUGAR [7:26] (Stanley Turrentine, La Place Music - BMI)
8. ALL BLUES [5:59] (Miles Davis, Jazz Horn Music Corp./ Sony/ATV
Songs - BMI) 9. YOU'VE CHANGED [9:06] (Bill Carey/Carl Fischer,
Southern Music Publishing - ASCAP) 10. IT'S YOU OR NO ONE [5:12]
(Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn, Producers Music Publishing/Remick Music
Corp. - ASCAP)
Soul
Serenade
 "As always, Gene Ludwig's playing is as powerful as you can get!
...My own personal feelings about Ludwig as a major player go as
far back as the early 1960's when we coled a great organ trio including
Randy Gillespie on drums. On Soul Serenade, his playing is stronger
than ever and keeps on growing!" - Pat Martino "Gene always plays
the organ like it's supposed to be played.. He's a fine player and
does it the correct way! - Dr. Lonnie Smith "Gene's hung in there
like the rest of us have. He's a very good player, a good-hearted
guy, and the man can play!" - Jimmy McGriff "We've been playing
together for years and years... A nice fella and he's a good musician!"
- Jack McDuff
1/ DUFF'S BLUES 2/ FREDDIE THE FREELOADER 3/ PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE
TO LOVE 4/ SOUL SERENADE 5/ REJOICIN' 6/ YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE
IS 7/ ONAMISTY NIGHT 8/ MY SHINING HOUR
Back
On The Track
Legendary organist
from Pittsburgh makes a dynamic comeback for his first solo effort
in over 10 years. Gene could be heard on Sonny Stitts records and
numerous recordings on his own. He toured with artists such as Arthur
Prysock, Pat Martino, Lou Donaldson to name a few. Gene continues
to be one of the country's most passionate exponents of the Hammond
B3 Organ. “I rock and groove to every beat of Gene's organ...”-
Bubba Hamilton, Blues Turtle News “Ludwig is not a showy player,
preferring to phrase in tasteful, smooth and sturdy fashion to keep
the session steadily grooving. All of his sidekicks are pros, especially
Janflone, whose guitar solos are superb throughout. This appropriately
titled and highly recommended album should please B-3 fans and deserves
to thrust Ludwig into the national spotlight again.”- Nancy Ann
Lee, CDNOW Music Store. “As always, Gene Ludwig's playing is
as powerful as you can get! ...My own personal feelings about Ludwig
as a major player go as far back as the early 1960's when we coled
a great organ trio including Randy Gillespie on drums. On Soul Serenade
, his playing is stronger than ever and keeps on growing!”
- Pat Martino “Gene always plays the organ like it's supposed
to be played.. He's a fine player and does it the correct way!”
- Dr. Lonnie Smith “Gene's hung in there like the rest of us
have. He's a very good player, a good-hearted guy, and the man can
play!” - Jimmy McGriff “We've been playing together for
years and years... A nice fella and he's a good musician!”
- Jack McDuff
1/ In Walked Bud 2/ Memphis Underground 3/ For Lena and Lenny 4/
River's Invitgation 5/ Back on the Track 6/ Triste 7/ The First
String 8/ At Last 9/ Papa Gee 10/ Brik's Works
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