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Ben Paterson: For Once in My Life

By C. Michael Bailey
September 17, 2015
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Track review of "For Once in My Life"

For his fourth recording, organist Ben Paterson returns to the North West Coast Origin label with For Once in My Life. He employs a standard organ-guitar-drums combo for eleven standards and originals that allows the crack trio he shares with guitarist

Peter Bernstein

guitar
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Bernstein and drummer

George Fludas

drums
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">George Fludas to fully explore the more modern sonic aspects of this popular jazz- blues-funk format. Blending the musical traditions of his native Philadelphia and his current Chicago home Paterson errs on the side of the ballad, liberally seasoned with hotter funk and blues. This is urban and urbane organ jazz.

Where he successfully brings the ballad and funk styles together is on the Ron Miller and Orlando Murden tune made famous by

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder for Detroit's Tamala Records in 1968. Paterson introduces the piece with a driving introduction that resolves into a fast waltz time modulating into 2/4 and 4/4 for the first section. He returns to the intro vamp before introducing his solo, over a walking 4/4 blues-funk romp. He dramatically builds his solo in both density, complexity, and pathos. His climax is experienced over a single right-hand note that explodes into block chord fireworks.

Breaking with the intro vamp again, Paterson sets up the first section rhythm of Bernstein to solo with smooth edges and curves. Fludas is provided space for dense polythythms bringing the piece into its well-designed coda. There is much to like on this new Paterson recording, and he cooked it all up in this one song.

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Track Listing

Cubano Chant; I��ll Close My Eyes; 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover; Cry Me a River; For Once in My Life; Decision; Nutville; Blues for C.F.; Near Miss; We��ll Be Together Again; I��ve Never Been in Love Before.

Personnel

Ben Paterson

piano

Ben Paterson: organ; Peter Bernstein: guitar; George Fludas: drums.

Album information

Title: For Once in My Life | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Origin Records

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