Besame Mucho!

Steve Grismore writes: 'For the last couple of years I have been commuting from my home in Iowa City to a little jazz club called the 'Continental' in Des Moines. While playing these trio gigs I have the honor of sharing the stage with an extraordinary jazz organist by the name of Sam Salamone. It is by far one of my favorite gigs, and I was compelled to document this music before the idea of gigging with a Hammond B3 and Leslie in the back of a van goes away. I strongly feel the tradition of the jazz organ trio should remain as part of the jazz mainstream. 'We are influenced by all the great musicians of the organ trio tradition--organists like Jimmy Smith, Mel Rhyne, Don Patterson, and Larry Young; guitarists like Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson; and drummers like Elvin Jones, Grady Tate, Don Bailey, and Idris Muhammed. For this session we did a combination of tunes from some of these artists as well as our own interpretations of a couple of jazz standards. Over the years I have played with several different drummers on this gig, but for this particular recording it was my pleasure to include a fabulous young drummer who currently lives in Des Moines and teaches at Drake and Grinnell College, John Kizilarmut. Sam, of course, is a legend throughout the Midwest and is a true torchbearer of the jazz organ tradition. Playing with Sam and John is a real treat. I hope you enjoy the music.'