There's something wonderfully imperturbable about the organ playing of Booker T. Jones. Whether he's riding the keys like a raft on a river of honey, or greasing 'em up in the service of some nasty funk, Booker T's Hammond is always sweetly self-assured and squarely in the pocket, willfully oblivious to the passage of time or trend — it still whirs and burbles like it did when it helped put Stax Records on the map nearly 50 years ago. Relegated to a supporting role on 2009's guitar-centric Potato Hole, Booker T's Hammond now reclaims its proper place in the spotlight on his fourth solo album, The Road From Memphis.

A 14-track salute to the music (and enduring musical influence) of his hometown, The Road From Memphis was recorded by the Dap-Kings' Gabriel Roth and produced by The Roots' ?uestlove and Beck/Elliott Smith/Whigs knob-twiddler Rob Knopf (who also co-produced Potato Hole). It happily centers around what Jones has always done best: Nine of the tracks are organ-driven soul instrumentals, all of which adhere beautifully to Booker T & the MGs' uncluttered keys-guitar-bass-drums template. Legendary session guitarist Dennis Coffey drops in for "Everything Is Everything," "The Vamp" and… read more »