MITCH TOWNE, Refuge

Though Refuge, Mitch Towne’s long awaited debut album as a leader, is named after the moody, at times fretful, furious and dynamically swinging title track, we can read a deeper meaning to the veteran Hammond organist’s choice of title.

Now that Joey DeFrancesco is no longer with us, it falls to guys like Towne to step up from their all-star sideman resumes and bring the classic trio magic of legends like the Jimmys (Smith and McGriff) to the modern age. Blissfully, rather than simply mine past glories, Towne’s decision to showcase mostly original pieces (with the exception of a jaunty, expansive eight-minute spin on Kenny Kirkland’s early 90s classic “Steepian Faith”) reflects his intention to move the genre forward by exploring the possibilities of multiple styles beyond traditional blues shuffles.

The future seems in great hands thanks to Towne and his rhythmically explosive cohorts Tetsuya Nishiyama (guitar) and Jeffery Johnson (drums), who seem granted the freedom to burn. A great entry point reflecting that forward, eclectic mindset is the snappy, blues-funk romp “Ode to Kenny” (a corollary tribute to Kirkland, presumably) which also gives Nishiyama room to crackle, move, groove and explore.

Or the opening track “Wolverine,” which gets the set off to a brisk, bustling and deeply percussive start, setting the soundscape for gems like the easy swinging, deeply soulful “Better Now Than Never At All,” a hypnotic 5/4 moodscape featuring one of Towne’s wildest solos, and a chipper, optimistic closer (“Act As If”) that wraps the set on a high, hopeful note.

Refuge represents a wonderful career breakthrough for Towne, who has livened the works of everyone from Buddy Miles, Tom Scott and Terrace Martin to Eric Gales and Dave Stryker. Here’s hoping its not just a one off but an open door to a bright future for the B-3!