The world may be in state of unrest but don’t tell that to Austria-based organ master Raphael Wressnig. Together with Brazilian guitarist Igor Prado, the duo have released one of the coolest-sounding feelgood albums of 2021. The CD release of Groove & Good Times spotlights Raphael and Igor, joined by the solid drumming of Igor’s brother Yuri Prado, laying down nine way-cool instrumentals with a vocal track featuring vocals by Igor and Jenni Rocha, blending a mix of funky instrumental R&B, jazz and soul blues that will bring your mood way up.

The magical sounding Hammond organ as the centerpiece in soul and funk music is legendary. Booker T & The MGs and The Meters did wonders for the instrumental R&B genre back in the mid to late 1960s and ‘70s. Carrying forth that soulful, funky Hammond sound into the early-mid 2020s, Raphael Wressnig and Igor Prado have crafted something of a modern-day classic of the genre. Groove & Good Times is totally original sounding in its own right, while another interesting aspect is that the 10-track, 44 minute album features a fun selection of covers from the pens of The Isley Brothers, Jr. Wells & Buddy Guy, Bill Withers, James Brown, Bob Marley, The Meters and more, topped off by a Wressnig original entitled “Shrimp Daddy”.

In a side note to 2021's Groove & Good Times, Raphael’s organ-heavy, funky soul jams extends to other genres of contemporary instrumental music and to that you can include his fresh spin on holiday music. In time to celebrate Christmas 2021, Raphael joined forces with NYC-based electric guitarist Alex Schultz for a 3-track CD EP called Bayou Christkind: A Soulful Christmas With A Funky Twist. Putting a new spin on Christmas music, this EP includes funky instrumental versions of “Little Drummer Boy”, “Silent Night” and the ever-popular “Winter Wonderland”. With Raphael’s swampy-sounding Hammond organ paired with guitarist Alex Schultz, Bayou Christkind is a fun-filled pairing of Southern funk and groove holiday music.

Echoing the upbeat, groove-based sounds of the great Hammond organ players years gone by, Raphael Wressnig has a number of albums in his catalog and, with its high likability factor, Groove & Good Times may very well be the album to bring him even more well-deserved global recognition and appreciation. www.raphaelwressnig.com