Tom Dempsey gets "Saucy" with a twist on old favorites and new tracks

I'll be the first to admit that I never heard music from jazz guitarist Tom Dempsey before; now that I have, I will definitely be listening out for more. Tom is expected to release his new CD called "Saucy" on September 17 and on the new compilation he will be joined with other musicians Ron Oswanski on organ and Alvin Atkinson on the drums.

On the new CD there is a marriage of the sound of the guitar with the Hammond B3 organ and if you were to ask Tom, he would tell you that it was intentional. Tom said "the nuances of the timbres found in both instruments when combined together in musical interplay that is rooted in the blues, creates a sonic palette like no other.

He mentioned the influence for his new CD as it pertains to the blending of the organ and guitar came from the Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith pairing and Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith on the CD "Back At the Chicken Shack". 

Each track on the new CD seems to have some sentimental value to Tom.  On the new CD, one can expect a varied song set, one that kicks off with a remake of James Ingram's "One Hundred Ways." This track is a special one and Tom explains why: "this is a song I grew up with and played in bands as a kid. One day I started singing this tune in a different way and it hit me that it could be made into a greasy bluesy arrangement so it landed there."

The track is followed by "Bock to Bock" which originally appeared on a Pacific Jazz CD that Tom purchased as a teenager and fell in love with. 

Other tracks on the CD include the title track “Saucy and “Ted’s Groove”, the latter which Tom said was written for his late guitar teacher and mentor Ted Dunbar.

Listen out for an impressive version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" which favors Aretha Franklin's reworking of the popular track over Simon and Garfunkel's version.

The last two tunes of the recording are original compositions which include  “The Big Bailout",  a tongue-in-cheek nod at the banking industry debacle of a few years ago and how government stepped in to save them. The recording closes "Pat-a-tat-tat", a tune that was written for jazz icon Pat Martino. 

If you are in the New York area on September 26, check out Tom's CD launch. It will take place at the La Guardia Performing Arts Center, La Guardia Community College in Long Island City, NY. Showtime is from 7.30pm. 

Also on October 11, you can join Tom and his band at the Bar Next Door for a performance. Bar Next Door is located at 129 MacDougal Street, New York, NY.