Galáctico is the second studio album from the Joe Tatton Trio and it’s top notch. Joe’s made his bones as the keyboard player for The New Mastersounds for 18 years teams up here with guitarist Lucas De Mulder who released his first album on Color Red last year.
This album is an excellent mix of uptempo funk and jazz as well as more dramatic cinematic pieces. It also comes full circle back to some of NMS’ roots, bringing in the Haggis Horns who played on early NMS albums.
I’ve seen Joe’s impact on the NMS sound increase over the years, right up to the release of their album Old School (review here) this year. It’s natural that the evolution of his sound continues since both albums were recorded in his home studio.
On this album, Joe’s shows deftness on the B3 and piano and his compositions are an easy reach for all fans of groove oriented funk fusion. I’m excited to see people’s reactions to this fine set and hope you enjoy this track-by-track coverage.
Best known as the keyboard player of veteran UK jazz-funk quartet The New Mastersounds, Joe Tatton is also the leader of his own Hammond organ trio, the Joe Tatton Trio, whose debut album came out in 2022 and won over a legion of support from fans and media alike.
Now 2 years later, Joe has teamed up with Madrid-based guitarist Lucas De Mulder plus drummer Luke Flowers of Cinematic Orchestra for sophomore album Galáctico, this time on an instrumental footing where Joe is primarily at the Hammond organ. With this new formation, the trio recorded at Joe‘s home studio on his C3 (where The New Mastersounds‘ latest album Old School was also recorded), and the result will delight fans of vintage jazz-funk as the album gives nods to Jimmy McGriff, Dr Lonnie Smith, George Benson etc etc.
Track-By-Track
Double Take is a fresh look at some James Brown style funk. It’s led by the fabulous guitarist Lucas De Mulder playing some high flying licks. Joe takes it next level on his turn and then he and Lucas ride to the finish.
Hey! — is a Meters inspired tune, similar to the New Mastersounds tradition of including one such tune on each album. The nod to both bands is apparent here, but with Joe taking us on a virtual New Orleans music tour. Lucas sounds fantastic and Luke holding down a hot pocket groove. This one doesn’t have horns and thats AOK!
El Gato is next and the slow start belies the latin salsa vibe featuring Sam Bell on congas and Atholl Ransome and Malcolm Strachan from The Haggis Horns. Atholl’s flute solo is a treat and Joe follows for a swirl followed by Malcolm as the cream on top. Luke pops in for a quick drum solo and then Lucas carries the ball. This one’s definitely a head bobber.
Guinnee Drop has Joe down low on the B3 accompanied by Lucas note for note, breaking momentarily for some rolling riffs from Luke. Joe takes over on B3 with some absolute bottom heavy foundation for Lucas to play over the top. Luke rides all the way and has super cool breaks dropped throughout.
Sugarman is a cover of Sixto Rodriguez’s “Sugarman” familiar to some as the subject of the movie “Searching for Sugrarman.” Lucas and Joe were both inspired by his story and loved the song so much it had to go on the album with a mellow instrumental twist.
It has a dark, reggae-feel at the very beginning but gets a bit lighter with more organ in the mix. It transitions to a more Spanish caballero cinematic piece. The alternating from trio to Lucas plucking theme is dramatic. The trio ride off to the end together.
Galáctico, the title track, is a funky groove with Lucas driving hard after the intro. The horns join midway just before Joe dances all over the keyboard with his organ solo. Malcolm has a stellar solo followed by Atholl and they joust until the full band belts out the ending.
Retiro was inspired by the park near Lucas’ pad in Madrid is a laid-back boogaloo vibe with Sam Bell again on congas. Lucas takes lead after the opening bars and Joe puts the punctuation on the melody. About a third of the way in, Joe takes and bright upright solo. The end buids with Lucas playing a repeat pattern and Joe embossing it with the organ.
Dame Lo Que Tienes was the first single extracted from the album and is a classic Hammond organ jazz-funk number set up by a funky guitar riff followed by a cutting hammond melody, a little bit Meters, mixed with Booker T, and The Crusaders!
The opening section has some catchy repeat pattens and the second section picks up the pace a fair bit. Luke gets a brief solo and stays in the forefront as Joe takes a synth solo at a lowered volume. Lucas comes back with a more electrified sound and it’s back to the main theme.
Moonbow displays a jazzier mellow vibe with a nod to Khruangbin. It’s downtempo with floating, sustained B3 initially leading, then handing off to the guitar to carry the ball. Joe takes the wheel with the melody again before the fade with Lucas.
Lost on You is a breezy disco/soul throwback with a bit of George Benson flavor. It has Joe on piano and a string sounding background contributing to that contemporary feel. Especially fun is the rollicking fun midsection with interplay between Lucas and Joe.
