Mitch Towne - 2025 - Refuge

(43:46; Cross Towne Records)




















Track list:
1. Wolverine 5:08
2. Refuge 7:22
3. Better Now Than Never at All 5:19
4. Ode to Kenny 5:28
5. Steepian Faith 7:58
6. Some Work of Noble Note, May Yet Be Done 7:00
7. Act As If 5:31

Line-up:
Mitch Towne - organ
Tetsuya Nishiyama - guitars
Jeffery Johnson - drums


US artist Mitch Towne has a career as a band member as well as a band leader, using his skills as a keyboard player in a number of different styles, genres and traditions over the years. This spring he released his first solo album "Refuge" on the imprint Cross Towne Records.

One fact that is crystal clear right from the start of this production is that this is a jazz album that revolves around the role of the organ as a supporting and lead instrument. With the Hammond the organ of choice. Hence those who really enjoy the organ as an instrument used in a jazz context can safely track this album down for a listen straight away.

But getting a bit more into the details here, this whole production explore the jazz trio, with drums and guitars being the additional instruments in use, and one exception aside it is the organ and the guitar that share the lead instrument role on this all instrumental affair, and with the former getting the most amount of limelight.

For my sake I found the opening 'Wolverine' and the concluding 'Act As If' to be the most intriguing creations, due to the combination of an upbeat tempo and sounds and melodies with a more uplifting and joyful nature. At times both playful and vibrant, these are compositions that will have a fairly broad appeal I imagine. It is easy to like and enjoy compositions that are more positive and happy in mood and spirit, after all.

In between those creations we have slower paced affairs, some more contemplative and introspective in nature, to the point of being delicate and subtle in some instances, while others make use of expressive displays in general and by the organ in particular. Music that is more for the mind and the soul if you like. Not as easily digested as the more upbeat and uptempo numbers that bookend this production.

Throughout all of the landscapes explored we get a smooth and elegant flow, where the flowing and elegant plucked guitar solo runs in particular adds an additional dimension of enjoyment, but also with some cases of a more tightly interwoven call and answer inspired back and forth between the lead instruments that in itself tend to be an enjoyable and rewarding listen. A small, additional shoutout goes to opening number 'Wolverine', where the addition of a nice little limelight on the drums adds an extra dimension to this already engaging piece.

If melodic and instrumental jazz that resolve rather heavily around the organ as a lead and support instrument sounds like your kind of music, this elegant debut album by Mitch Towne is one that you probably will find to be a rather captivating experience.

Olav M. Björnsen, December 2025

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/mitch.towne.7/

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