Freddie Roach - Down To Earth

New Jersey-born organist Freddie Roach made his Blue Note debut in 1962 with a striking statement of groove and elegance. Recorded with tenor saxophonist Percy France, guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Clarence Johnston, this session captures Roach's early style in full swingilean, bluesy and imbued with soul-jazz vitality. 'Althea Soon' stands out as a masterclass in restraint, giving space for each player to dance between phrasing and feel, while 'De Bug' opens the set with a buoyant, minor-key strut that's all momentum and snap. Elsewhere, 'Ahm Miz' and 'Lion Down' channel easy swagger and smoky late-night warmth. This all-analogue reissue, cut by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180g vinyl, does justice to the tone of each instrument, particularly the tactile swell of Roach's B3. More than just a debut, it's a blueprint of the intimate, rhythm-led sound that defined his early yearsiand a vital slice of soul-jazz from the Blue Note vaults.