Rise Up!

Back in the ‘60s, Dr. Lonnie Smith got quite a bit of attention for his funky organ playing in groups led by the guitarist George Benson and the saxophonist Lou Donaldson, and he’s recorded numerous high-spirited albums as a leader since. On 2009’s Rise Up!, Smith leads a quartet — guitarist Peter Bernstein, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, and drummer Herlin Riley — through a lively set of originals and covers. (As with many jazz organ combo outings, there is no bass player.) Things kick off with “A Matterapat,” a high-octane, Latin-tinged piece with an insistent theme. The mellow “And the World Weeps” features wordless singing by Jo Lowry and others, imbuing the track with an eccentric, lounge-like quality. Smith nicely reimagines the Beatles’ “Come Together,” which features the organist croakily vocalizing the melody. It might take you a minute to recognize the cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” the ‘80s hit by the British pop duo. The cut opens with a wonderfully odd organ intro before heading into a downtempo groove. Rise Up! closes with “Voodoo Doll,” a spacey mid-tempo keeper abetted by the percussion of James Shipp, who contributes to a handful of tracks.