Milt Buckner - Green Onions (2000)

From 1966-77, organist Milt Buckner recorded often for European labels. This particular set (originally cut for the Black & Blue label) was one of the very few to be made available domestically. It came out on Inner City's Classic Jazz subsidiary, and it is a bit of an oddity. Buckner, through overdubbing, performs on organ, piano and vibes (which he rarely played), and even takes an eccentric vocal on "Green Onions." To confuse matters, pianist Andre Persiany is also heard on some numbers, along with blues guitarist Roy Gaines, bassist Roland Lobligeois and drummer Panama Francis. The music itself is much less complicated, swing standards plus Buckner's "Pour Toutes Mes Soeurs" and "Milt's Boogie." Fun good-time music that will be difficult to find. -- Scott Yanow