Chris Hazelton - In Rotation
(Cellar Music Group, 2026)
Chris Hazelton is a premier Hammond B-3 organist and a cornerstone of the modern Kansas City jazz scene. Deeply rooted in the soul-jazz tradition, his playing blends gospel, hard bop, and funk, a style honed under the mentorship of local legend Everette DeVan and the iconic Dr. Lonnie Smith. Hazelton’s journey began in 2004 when he was first captivated by the organ while listening to Medeski Martin & Wood. After a formative period in New York City from 2007 to 2009, he returned to Kansas City to become a driving force in the community, leading his flagship ensemble, the Boogaloo 7, and founding his own label, Sunflower Soul Records.
In Rotation (2026), continues his mission to prove that mainstream jazz can maintain a powerful, danceable groove. This project follows a series of acclaimed works that showcase his range from gritty soul-jazz to refined swing. The recording opens with “Sound for Sore Ears” where Hazelton stabs his spear in the sand regarding the swing that is in store. “Summer in Central Park” sports an easy groove that recalls the organist's formative years in New York City.
The album concludes with a lush, funky tryptic comprising Billy Strayhorn’s “Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” that is heated with Lee Morgan’s “Speedball” followed closely by a crepuscular reading of Tadd Dameron’s “On A Misty Night.” Hazelton has refined his grease to high diesel over the past number of years and this is the result.