Willette, Baby-Face: Stop and Listen LP

In the 1960s, Blue Note’s roster of organists boasted a formidable line-up of leading Hammond B3 practitioners like Jimmy Smith, Big John Patton, Freddie Roach, and Larry Young each of whom was honing their own distinctive styles on the instrument. The Little Rock born Baby Face Willette debuted his swinging sound on three consecutive Blue Note sessions in January 1961: Lou Donaldson’s Here ‘Tis, Grant Green’s Grant’s First Stand, and Willette’s own debut album Face To Face. Alfred Lion brought Willette back into Van Gelder Studio in May of that year for his second leader date, Stop and Listen. Featuring a trio with Green on guitar and Ben Dixon on drums, the organist delivered a soul jazz symposium with memorable versions of “Willow Weep For Me,” “At Last,” and “Worksong” alongside cool struttin’ Willette originals like “Soul Walk,” “Chances Are Few,” and the title track.