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Organ Freeman: Busywork

By Ian Patterson
April 30, 2025
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Not to be confused with the Los Angles-based organ trio of the same name—though it is hard to see how confusion will not reign—this Organ Freeman hails from Dublin, Ireland, where guitarist/vocalist

Charlie Moon

guitar
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Moon, organist

Darragh Hennessy

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">Darragh Hennessy and drummer

Dominic Mullan

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dominic Mullan have held a Sunday residency at The Big Romance since 2018. For its debut album, the trio welcomes tenor saxophonist

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Buckley on a set split equally between original tunes and covers. Drawing inspiration from the jazz organ trios' golden era of the '50s and '60s, the music covers blues, swing, funk and balladry.

Perhaps what sets this combo apart from other jazz organ trios is Moon's singing. There is more than a passing resemblance to

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker in his gently melancholic, vibrato-free delivery of "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry," "Make Someone Happy," (both by

Jule Styne

" data-original-title="" title="">Jule Styne)—and his self-penned "Here's To The Rest." A swinging version of Richard Rogers' "Loads of Love" breaks the mould, the faster tempo eliciting some tasty solos culminating in a vamp-driven drum feature. Pleasant diversions, these vocal numbers shake up an otherwise unwavering template of solos bookended by unison heads.

Familiar architecture for sure, but there is much to enjoy in the group's play. Moon, a guitarist of clean tone, brings understated grace to the table on a handful of elegant solos—without ever quite letting go. Buckley's coarser attack, by contrast, injects some pep into proceedings. The saxophonist struts his stuff like James Brown-era

Maceo Parker

saxophone, alto
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Maceo Parker on the funk-fueled title track, burns with boppish intensity on the lively "Moonlight Dames," deep-dives into the blues on the slow-cooking "Skirts and Kidneys" and lends purring lyricism to the ballad "Here's To the Rest." Just as his participation broadened the sonic palette of Dublin trio

CEO Experiment

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">CEO Experiment, Buckley's contributions here are telling.

The organ is a constant presence throughout; Hennessy's bubbling accompaniment and snaking solos place him firmly in a line that descends from

Jimmy Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1925 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Smith to

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco . His solo on

Hank Mobley

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Mobley's "Hipsippy Blues" and shimmering lines on

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's "Christo Redentor"-an album highlight—are reminders why the organ trio never grows old. Perhaps a little more collective caution-to-the-wind bravura would have made for a more viscerally engaging listen, but that is what the live arena is for.

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Track Listing

Busywork; Gravy Waltz; Moonlight Dames; Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry; Hipsippy Blues; Skirts and Kidneys; Loads of Love; Here's To The Rest; St. James's Gate; Make Someone Happy; Milk and Honey; Cristo Redentor.

Personnel

Charlie Moon

guitar

Darragh Hennessy

organ, Hammond B3

Dominic Mullan

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Michael Buckley: tenor saxophone

Album information

Title: Busywork | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Self Produced

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