DECOY
Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Eclectic Fusion • United Kingdom

Decoy are Alexander Hawkins on Hammond Organ, John Edwards on Double Bass and Steve Noble on Percussion. The disturbing, distorted Hammond organ sound is a natural fit for a free jazz combo. With a pedigree including low-cost church pipe organ substitute, novelty instrument (vide Walt Disney’s Blame It On The Samba, part of his 1948 animated film Melody Time, where a Carmen Mirandered Ethel Smith plays a Hammond as it’s blown to bits by ‘toon Aracuan) and jazz cool tool bar none courtesy of Smiths - Jimmy and Dr Lonnie - McGriff, Patton, Young et al, the B3 and Leslie cabinet’s overblown bastard tones one minute toying, the next destroying, were made to play the freedom sound. Ra did it (free jazz funk on Lanquidity, 1978) but the Hammond has been over-looked by the improv community. Which is a surprise as it combines huge tonal potential with visceral attack, speed read more...