The Steve Hall Quintet

Of the familiar tunes, none would be associated with the organ trio concept, but the quintet gives them fresh treatments: Thelonious Monk's “Monk's Dream,” with Hall's organ rounding off some of the characteristic percussive bump of the tune and sweetening the mix, with a tangy soprano sax solo--a la Steve Lacy--thrown in to sweeten it a bit more; and Jimmy Van Heusen's “Darn That Dream,” Horace Silver's “Silver's Seranade,” and Wayne Shorter's “Witch Hint.” Coltrane's classic “Moment's Notice,” from the masterful Blue Train, sounds full of joy as it glides forward on a smooth, organ-chilled momentum. Hall also writes a fine tune. The opener, “On a Scale of One to Five,” lifts the spirits--minor key or no--with a fine and lively trumpet solo by Richard Watson, and “Blue Sky Black Coffee” struts along with a spring in its step, showing off Hall's skills with an engaging melody and catchy groove. The group does get a little down and dirty with one blues offering, “Cap'n Jack's Blues,” for Jack McDuff, on a set full of engaging straightahead organ and horn jazz.
- All About Jazz

West Coast vet Steve Hall is "keeping the Hammond organ, hard-bop tradition alive”. He does play hard bop with a bassless, organ-led combo - Cal Hudson (saxes), Richard Watson (trumpet), Peter Schwimmer (guitar) and Kenny Morse (drums) - and they're on the ball.
- Wilson and Alroy Record Reviews

There is much more to The Steve Hall Quintet than meets the eye. Hall’s quintet is rounded-out by proficient Portland players. Trumpeter and native Texan, Richard Watson studied under Don "Jake" Jacoby, a veteran player with Tommy Dorsey and Les Brown. Pete Schwimmer's guitar-work occasionally belies his other musical pursuit: bluegrass banjo and mandolin. The stellar “What You Say To That?” makes full use of this effect. Saxophonist Cal Hudson does justice to Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” with a pronounced, lyrical tone. He turns in a strong solo, then hands-off to Jacoby and Schwimmer, each exhibiting a proficient bop sensibility. Kenny Morse’s drumbeats propel the others forward, particularly with his imaginative fills and turn-arounds.
Seven of these twelve tunes are Hall originals, inspired by the hard-bop likes of Horace Silver, Charles Earland and the Jazz Messengers. The other five are well-loved standards by Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, DeLange/VanHeusen, Horace Silver himself, and Wayne Shorter.
- Jazzreview

Bop from top to bottom makes this a most welcome album. "Darn That Dream" features Cal Hudson's smoky sax solo along with some cool changes and fine comping by Steve Hall's at the organ . This is a super track. Cap'n Jack's Blues..A salute to Brother Jack McDuff and Steve Hall nails this blues number with a soulful solo. Hudson struts along masterfully and Pete Schwimmer is all over the guitar with remarkable facility and
the band drives this tune home emphatically. This is an album that swings and then swings some more. 5 Stars
- Ejazznews