Kevin Coelho is a 16 year old Hammond B3 organ prodigy, delivering here his debut album of smoky jazz and blues titled Funkengruven-The Joy of Driving a B3. Produced by his teacher & mentor, and also Hammond great, Tony Monaco, Funkengruven-The Joy of Driving a B3 is a feast for lovers of the B3, and the fact that Coelho is only 16 makes what's on display here all the more amazing.
The youngster is backed by drummer Reggie Jackson and guitarist Derek Dicenzo (who both play in Monaco's band), and the three make a pretty formidable trio, with Coelho and his tasty Hammond licks front and center. The album is made up of mostly cover tunes with a few Coelho originals, one of which is the thrilling title track which kicks things off in fine fashion. His B3 rages on Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" alongside some serious solos from Dicenzo, dives into gospel & blues on the sultry "Take a Stand", and oozes out of the speakers on the wonderful rendition of Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay". "McJimmy" is no doubt a tribute to the late great Jimmy Smith, one of the true legends of the B3, and the band brings out the be-bop on the Miles Davis classic "Donna Lee". Throughout, Coelho's tone is superb, and he shows that he's got the chops at 16, and should only get better.
As good as this CD is, I think we haven't yet seen the best from this young star. Perhaps next time around Kevin Coelho will toss in a few more original tunes as his songwriting skills mature, and then we'll really start to hear more of what this talented young musician is all about.
Track Listing
1 Funkergruven
2 Cantiloupe Island
3 Take a Stand
4 Chagalu
5 Dock of the Bay
6 McJimmy
7 Donna Lee
8 Tangerine
9 Play It Back
10 What's New
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