Philadelphia, PAThree Blind Mice is a Philadelphia-based organ trio, formed by Saxophonist Victor North along with Lucas Brown on organ and Wayne Smith Jr. at the drums. 2011 brings us their long-awaited debut album, The Outsider, which navigates predominantly through original music penned by Mr. North and Mr. Brown.
The trio has been together for almost eight years and the album certainly showcases their cooperative sound as well as the high degree of communication they share resulting from their long tenure together. All three members are regulars of the Philadelphia scene and highly steeped in that city's strong hard-bop tradition.
Through their original music, the Mice present their unique voice while maintaining a strong tie to those roots. Victor North's composition Now We Know What It Means" is a poignant tribute to the victims of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the title is a nod to the Louis Armstrong standard Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?." Lucas Brown coaxes hymn-like sounds out of the organ in the introduction to his ballad Hatha" while Mr. Smith provides his unique fire to the ironically-titled closing track Intro."
Three Blind Mice make a strong case for the modern jazz organ trio with this hard-swinging date.
The trio has been together for almost eight years and the album certainly showcases their cooperative sound as well as the high degree of communication they share resulting from their long tenure together. All three members are regulars of the Philadelphia scene and highly steeped in that city's strong hard-bop tradition.
Through their original music, the Mice present their unique voice while maintaining a strong tie to those roots. Victor North's composition Now We Know What It Means" is a poignant tribute to the victims of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the title is a nod to the Louis Armstrong standard Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?." Lucas Brown coaxes hymn-like sounds out of the organ in the introduction to his ballad Hatha" while Mr. Smith provides his unique fire to the ironically-titled closing track Intro."
Three Blind Mice make a strong case for the modern jazz organ trio with this hard-swinging date.