Drummer James Gaiters invited three of his favorite musicians to a record session devoted to a remake of Big John Patton’s 1968 Blue Note album “Understanding.” Patton, a master of the Hammond B-5, had teamed up with drummer Hugh Walker and flutist Harold Alexander on “Understanding,” a soul-jazz album which has become iconic over the years.
   

   
Now Gaiters, who worked with organist Jimmy Smith for many years, has paid tribute to Patton’s work in his latest release, UNDERSTANDING REIMAGINED. Backed by his group Soul Revival–-saxophonist Eddie Bayard, guitarist Kevin Turner and organist Robert Mason–-Gaiters’ latest is an album of exquisitely-played, deeply-moving jazz. The tunes they’ve visited might be five decades old, but they’ve been updated and refurbished in a fresh and inventive way, making them sound new and exciting.
A case in point is “Ding Dong,” composed by Alexander. Gaiter’s band turns it on its head with a dazzling arrangement that mixes boogaloo with straight-ahead jazz and fiery bursts of inspired soloing. That’s followed by equally catchy, creative versions of “Soul Man,” “Alfie’s Theme” and “Chitlins Con Carne,” all of which are topped by the band’s all-out assault on “Understanding,” which swings for six memorable minutes.

UNDERSTANDING REIMAGINED proves that gifted musicians can make the past sound every bit as relevant as the present.

(Jamesgaiters.com)