Reviewed by Jeff Cebulski ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Righteous Rooster, Fowl Play.

Henry Dickhoff, Hammond organ

Kenny Reichert, guitar

Luke Sagadin, drums

(Shifting Paradigm Records, 2024)

Righteous Rooster Ably Joins Chicago’s Guitar/Organ Tradition

For years, Bobby Broom and his Organi-Sation and Deep Blue trio, groups featuring Ben Patterson and John Moulder, and several others have reigned supreme in Chicago guitar/organ circles, but a new varmint in town is ready to join the action. The improbably-named Righteous Rooster—Henry Dickhoff on organ, Kenny Reichert on guitar, and Luke Sagadin on drums—has released its debut album Fowl Play on Shifting Paradigm. Full of grooves and swing, it’s worth the time to investigate.

Dickhoff, a native North Carolinian who has moved around for several years before landing in Chicago, has recorded an EP with the similarly-built Visceral Trio before forming this new ensemble. Reichart, a Wisconsin native, earned a master’s at DePaul while gradually crafting a recording career. Sagadin, has immersed himself in the Chicago music community over the past decade. The six selections on Fowl Play demonstrate the cohesive rapport the three have attained.

The album, which comes in at a tidy 34-plus minutes, gets moving right away with “Groovin’ on Claremont,” which lives up to its title. Dickhoff’s funky and melodic Hammond creates a solid pocket with Sagadin, Booker T-style. The organist’s smooth and tasty solo gives way to Reichert’s solo, somewhere between Duane Allman and Steve Cropper, satisfies.

“The End of the World” soulfully waltzes in a “My Favorite Things” manner; the softly funky “James Beam” rides an intricately-picked Reichert melody before he steps on a device to deliver a smoking statement; “The Fridge” promenades down Blues Avenue—the guitar/organ meshing here is particularly natty; the quiet “Aravind” highlights Reichert’s ability to perform ornate, sensitive expression while Dickhoff fills in with exquisite chords; “Late Night Reprise” is a post bop closer, giving Sagadin a chance to express himself with sharp accents and his own solos while his pals provide swinging interplay.

Whether by design or by serendipity, on its debut Fowl Play the tight and talented trio Righteous Rooster demonstrates its rapport and credibility upon entering a particularly deep Chicago jazz genre.

Righteous Rooster "Foul Play" - Shifting Paradigm Records, 2024

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Righteousroosterband.com

Personnel:

Henry Dickhoff, Hammond organ

Kenny Reichert, guitar

Luke Sagadin, drumsfrom www.chicagojazz.com