Royce Campbell

Feature CD Review: Royce Campbell's "Organ Trio"

For Release: January 7, 2020
Review by Malvin Massey, Jr., 1/7/2020

This Feature CD Review is from legendary guitarist Royce Campbell and is titled simply "Organ Trio."

If you have been listening to jazz for a while, you are sure to have heard the guitar of Royce Campbell. His mellow, fluid sound is just plain relaxing and comfortable.

Born in Indiana, his father was a career Navy man so Royce grew up literally all over the U.S. and the world. His love for rock and roll led him to the guitar at the age of 9.

By the time he finished high school in Spain in the early 70's, he had decided to be a musician. He was invited by his uncle, who had done arrangements for Stan Kenton and Les Elgart, to come and live and study in Indianapolis.

His uncle provided him with an education in music theory and composition. When he was 21, he toured with Marvin Gaye, before beginning a twenty year stint as guitarist for the great Henry Mancini.

In the early 90's, after Mr. Mancini's passing, he began to record more as a leader. Some of his albums over the years have become classics and feature a plethora of great guitarists.

In 2010, Campbell was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame.

This new CD, released in October of 2019, is the second time he has done an organ trio recording. This one features Jonah Kane-West on organ, and Billy Williams, Jr. on drums.

With the smoothness of Campbell, the jazzy, bluesy organ of Kane-West, and the precision of Williams, this is an album of really entertaining songs, some from the Mancini catalog and the rest originals.

It is a mellow combination of tempos and funky, bluesy and intimate sounds that will make you feel good when you hear them.