Full Steam Ahead
Chicken Coup, 2025
8/10
The B3 organ player and percussionist Linda Dachtyl is joined by Don Hales, Cary Dachtyl, Mark Donavan, Ben Huntoon and Pat Ankrom for these 10 genre skipping tracks.
The infectious energy of “Illumination” opens the record with Huntoon’s bright trumpet alongside the frisky rhythm section and Dachtyl’s glowing keys, and “The Outsider” follows with Hales’ spirited guitar that suits the playful organ and frisky rhythm.
The title track and “Lava Lamp Suite” land in the middle. The former uses Cary Dachtyl’s scrappy drumming amid lively keys and stylish guitar lines, while the latter is calmer moment of grooves and rich song craft.
Getting close to the end, “Think Of One” recruits Donavan’s meticulous sax playing to complement the timeless jazz climate, and “April In Paris” exits with booming keys, soulful tenor sax and crisp drumming that makes an indelible impression.
A really well done effort of originals and covers, Dachtyl and company inject blues, funk and fusion ideas into this top notch jazz organ listen.
Travels well with: Hannah Gill- Spooky Jazz Vol. 3; Emma Hedrick- Newcomer