At the Crossroads


At the Crossroads is an album by saxophonist James Carter's Organ Trio which was released on the EmArcy label in 2011.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek says, "At the Crossroads delivers what its title promises: a portrait of the Organ Trio at the point where they look back at B-3 jazz history and move it ever forward". In JazzTimes Steve Greenlee said, "Carter’s tone—alternately gruff and sensuous, always balancing melody and skronk—of course gets the limelight. His is, after all, one of today’s most unmistakable saxophone voices, and he knows it". On All About Jazz C. Michael Bailey noted, "Carter takes advantage of the music, exploring all of its facets in his exceptional organ trio format. No stone is left unturned, no influence unaknowledged". The Guardian critic John Fordham wrote, "Carter can be sumptuously romantic or exhilaratingly funky – his technique embraces all kinds of extreme playing, from split-note multiphonic harmonies to staccato effects – and he directs his full firepower at this mostly mainstream-groovy repertoire".

Track listing

  1. "Oh Gee" - 6:49
  2. "JC Off the Set" - 3:19
  3. "Aged Pain" - 5:26
  4. "The Walkin' Blues" - 5:21
  5. "My Whole Life Through" - 7:04
  6. "Walking the Dog" - 7:23
  7. "Lettuce Toss Yo' Salad" - 7:00
  8. "Misterio" - 5:09
  9. "Ramblin' Blues" - 4:19
  10. "Come Sunday" - 7:34
  11. "Tis the Old Ship of Zion" - 5:21
  12. "The Hard Blues" - 9:52

    Personnel