CD Review: Raphael Wressnig and Alex Schultz, Soul Gift

Not recommended.

Raphael Wressnig is an Austrian Hammond B3 organist and his partner, Alex Schultz, is an American guitarist. They have a small band whose instrumentation and repetoire is reminiscent of Booker T. and the M. G.'s. This album, their second on the ZYX label, is a time capsule of '60s soul music. Three of the fourteen cuts feature vocals; the rest are instrumental. Three of those instrumentals are originals; the rest are covers. Two of the covers are of Booker T. tunes. Here's a promo for the CD.

The three vocals feature guest appearances by Deitra Farr and Tab Robinson. (Schultz is a regular member of Robinson's backup band.) Mr. Robinson's version of the Bessie Banks soul ballad “Go Now” is the highlight of the CD. Once again, he shows himself to be one of our most accomplished soul balladeers. (I couldn't find a free copy in the internet, but you might consider downloading it, while ignoring the rest of the CD.) Ms. Farr does Billy Preston's “All That I've Got,” and she and Robinson duet on Ashford and Simpson's “Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing,” originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Neither of these improve on the original versions. Guitarist Kirk Fletcher and tenor sax man Gordon Beadle ("Sax Gordon") also make brief appearances.

A couple of the instrumentals reward repeated listening. Their version of Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper's “Soul Dressing” establishes a nice groove. My personal favorite is Joe Zawinul's “Money in the Pocket,” which he recorded with Cannonball Adderley, and which includes solos by Gordon and trumpeter Eric Bloom.

On the other hand, their instrumental versions of “Wichita Lineman” and “A Change is Gonna Come” might double as sedatives. The rest, including their three originals, would make excellent background music while you're cleaning the house.

This 2012 CD was literally a soul gift. I received it as a premium for renewing my membership in the Blues Foundation. Presumably, someone had a few boxes of unsold CDs lying around.

Tracks:  All That I've Got; Soul Dressing; Double Bubble; Go Now; Pigmy; Tasty Dish; Cold Beer; Same Old Blues; Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing; Casio Slim; Jellybread; Wichita Lineman; Money in the Pocket; A Change is Gonna Come.  (60 min.)

Personnel:  Rafael Wressnig, Hammond B3 organ; Alex Schultz, guitar; Kirk Fletcher, guitar (1 track); Eric Bloom, trumpet (5 tracks); Gordon Beadle, saxophones (5 tracks); Silvio Berger, drums (9 tracks); Lukas Knofler, drums (5 tracks); Luis Ribeiro, percussion (2 tracks); Deitra Farr, vocals (2 tracks); Tad Robinson, vocals (2 tracks).