Personnel:
Luis Rivera (org), Anthony Ortega (as, fl), Willie Smith (as), Lorenzo Holden, Carey Visor (ts), Larry Bunker (vib), Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Irving Ashy (g), Wilfred Middlebrooks (b), Johnny Kirkwood, Gene Gammage (d)
Reference: FSRCD 1080
Bar code: 8427328610803
Fresh Sound Records presents:
Rare and Obscure Jazz Albums
A CD series created for the most discerning jazz collectors
· Hard to find albums in Collector's Edition
· 2 Original LPs on 1 CD
· Original Cover Art, Liner Notes
· Complete Personnel Details
· Mono Recordings
· Newly Remastered in 24-Bit
Luis Rivera, born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Ohio, initially pursued psychology after graduating in 1948. However, his passion for music soon led him to leave his career as a clinical psychologist to fully embrace life as a musician.
As a pianist, Luis performed with Roy Milton’s band in Texas and later accompanied Billie Holiday at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles in 1953. That same year, inspired by “Wild” Bill Davis’s organ sound, Luis adopted the Hammond organ and quickly gained recognition. He formed his first trio and performed at major venues like the Oasis, Morocco, and the Keyboard in Beverly Hills, while also recording tracks for the Federal label.
In 1957, Luis recorded his first album, Las Vegas, under the direction of producer John Dolphin, released on his Cash label. The album featured a sextet of talented musicians, including Barney Kessel, and captured Rivera’s distinctive organ sound and repertoire from his Las Vegas performances.
In 1961, while enjoying a successful run at Dynamite Jackson’s Lounge, Luis recorded his second album for Imperial Records, Filet of Soul, showcasing a blend of blues and ballads. The lineup that included Anthony Ortega (alto and flute), Lorenzo Holden (tenor), and Herb Ellis (guitar).
Luis continued performing at prominent Los Angeles clubs like Marty’s, the Moulin Rouge, and the Trocadero, while also touring nationally. By 1965, after an engagement at Herb Jeffries’ Flamingo Room, details about his career and personal life became scarce.
These two albums highlight Luis Rivera’s unique contributions to soul jazz, reflecting his mastery of the Hammond organ and his ability to create captivating grooves.
—Jordi Pujol
"In this day of Spotify or other apps telling you what you should be listening to, it’s easy to overlook valuable artists that are just under the radar. That is a niche that Fresh Sound records has filled, proving itself with this recent release.
Luis Rivera played his organ in the R&Bish feel of Wild Bill Davis, swinging hard on these two albums from 1957 and 1961, both recorded in LA. The 1957 outing shows him with some heavy company in Willie Smith/as, Carey Visor/ts, Larry Bunker/vib, Barney Kessel-Irving Ashby/g and Gene Gammage/dr, with Smith in glorious form on “All Of Me” and Visor tapping into his inner Ben Webster on “Chelsea Bridge.” Bunker bounces on the Kansas City’d “Luis Salutes The Count” and is buoyant on “Our Love Is Here To Stay.” Four years later, with Anthony Ortega/as-fl, Lorenzo Holden/ts, Herb Ellis/g, Wilfred Middlebrooks/b and Johnny Kirkwood/dr he sounds a bit more swampy as on “Mona’s Groove”, and the ceiling is low for the smoke filled room of “Blues For Sylvia” and “Blues For Terry.” The joint was jumpin’!
—George W. Harris (March 10, 2025)
https://www.jazzweekly.com/
