When the forecast calls for a Category 5 collision of jazz, rock, and blues, it’s not a warning—it’s an invitation. Jazz guitarist Dominic Walker brings full Florida Man energy to the Side Door Cabaret this Thursday, August 28, headlining the release of his new album, Hurricane Summer, a vibrant testament to the enduring power and fresh possibilities of the organ trio tradition.
The Organ Trio: A Classic Storm Reimagined
In the world of jazz, the organ trio—a Hammond organist, guitarist, and drummer—has been a standard-bearer for groove, soul, and improvisational interplay. The format’s roots reach back to the legendary Jimmy Smith, whose trios set the gold standard, and forward to the genre-bending explorations of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Soulive, and icons like Shirley Scott, Jack McDuff, and Larry Goldings. It’s this lineage the Hurricane Summer band channels, but with a distinctly modern and local flavor.
The Band Behind the Tempest
Walker’s core trio features John O’Leary III on organ and Paul Gavin on drums—two musicians whose chemistry with Walker ignited during a Tampa coffee bar gig (sans bassist, with piano in place of organ). It was this stripped-down show that caught the ear of Les Glick, who encouraged the group to make an album. The pivotal switch came when O’Leary moved to organ, adding not just harmonic color but also underpinning the groove with the instrument’s robust bass. Joining the trio for the Side Door show are two Palladium favorites: vocalist Allison Nash and saxophonist Jack Wilkins.
Hurricane Summer: The Album
Clocking in at 40 minutes, Hurricane Summer captures the energy of a summer storm you’ll actually want to remember. The album’s construction is as much about honoring tradition as it is about breaking new ground.
The album is a mix of covers and two Walker originals. Along with some jazz standards, the band explores tunes by The Zombies, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles.
As Walker told me: “I like playing songs that people actually know.”
The Live Experience
The album release performance is a two-set show. The first set delivers the Hurricane Summer album in full, immersing audiences in the band’s creative vision. The second set turns up the heat, as Nash and Wilkins join for a stormier, more expansive journey through jazz, rock, and blues.
Walker and his ensemble offer a reminder: even in the wildest weather, music can be the eye of the storm—a place where energy, invention, and community converge. For tickets and more information, you can follow this link.
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