John Patton - Mosaic Select 6 [2003] (3 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ 

JOHN PATTON

John Patton - Mosaic Select 6 [2003] (3 x CDs)

This 3CD set gathers the core of John Patton’s Blue Note recordings from the first half of the 1960s, a period when the Hammond B‑3 was moving from club staple to a defining sound of the label’s catalogue. Mosaic presents the material in session order, allowing the development of Patton’s approach to be heard through changes in personnel, repertoire, and the shifting balance between groove and improvisation. The recordings come from Rudy Van Gelder’s Englewood Cliffs studio, where the organ’s weight and warmth were captured with unusual clarity.

The early sessions show Patton working in tight trios and quartets, often with Grant Green and Ben Dixon, a combination that produced some of the most distinctive organ‑guitar interplay of the era. The pieces move with a relaxed confidence, built on riffs, blues forms, and rhythmic figures that leave room for Patton’s phrasing to settle into the groove rather than push against it. As the set progresses, the ensembles widen, bringing in horns that add colour without disturbing the core feel.

Several tracks stand out across the collection. The material from Along Came John shows Patton’s ability to shape a session around simple themes that open into extended improvisation. The Oh Baby! session adds a brighter tone, with Harold Vick’s tenor lines giving the music a different lift. The later recordings, including pieces from The Way I Feel, show Patton experimenting with more structured arrangements while keeping the rhythmic centre intact.

By the final CD, the shape of Patton’s Blue Note years is clear. The set documents a musician who understood the organ’s role as both anchor and lead voice, and who built a body of work defined by clarity, pulse, and an unforced sense of swing. Mosaic’s presentation gives these sessions the space they deserve, revealing the depth behind music often remembered only for its groove. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 John Patton - The Silver Meter 5:40

02 John Patton - I'll Never Be Free 5:03

03 John Patton - Spiffy Diffy 6:01

04 John Patton - Along Came John 6:02

05 John Patton - Gee Gee 6:02

06 John Patton - Pig Foots 5:44

07 John Patton - The Rock 7:29

08 John Patton - The Way I Feel 8:38

09 John Patton - Jerry 6:45

10 John Patton - Davene 7:25

11 John Patton - Just 3/4 6:52

CD2

01 John Patton - Fat Judy 7:40

02 John Patton - Oh Baby 6:17

03 John Patton - Each Time 5:39

04 John Patton - One to Twelve 7:52

05 John Patton - Night Flight 6:35

06 John Patton - Good Juice 6:31

07 John Patton - String Bean 5:42

08 John Patton - I Want to Go Home 8:36

09 John Patton - Early A.M. 7:17

CD3

01 John Patton - Dirty Fingers 6:10

02 John Patton - Minor Swing 6:38

03 John Patton - Daddy James 6:47

04 John Patton - Ding Dong 5:34

05 John Patton - Congo Chant 9:11

06 John Patton - Alfie's Theme 4:41

07 John Patton - Soul Man 6:11

08 John Patton - Understanding 6:56

09 John Patton - Chitlins Con Carne 6:36

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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