The Drawbars – One Finger Only (Color Red, 2023)
The Drawbars, a German trio from Hamburg, catapult onto the music scene with their superb debut album, One Finger Only. In this case, they take the listener into an enticing, genre-defying musical journey.
Stylistically, The Drawbars skillfully weave together elements of soul-jazz, funk, blues, and psychedelic vibes, infusing the contagious energy of a jazz-loving organ trio with a rock edge. Central to their sound is the Hammond B3 organ, wielded with finesse by the versatile Christoph Haertel. His organ performances are a dynamic spectrum, at times venturing into the realms of psychedelia, with echoes of influences spanning from Jon Lord of Deep Purple to the iconic Brian Auger and the fabulous Allman Brothers Band.
Amidst their original compositions, One Finger Only surprises with a stellar rendition of “Shout,” a classic written by Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley, immortalized by British band Tears for Fears.
The inception of The Drawbars in 2018 was a dream fulfilled for bassist David Nesselhauf, who envisioned a highly flexible and funky trio. Huddled in Hamburg, Germany, Nesselhauf brought in keyboard virtuoso Chris Haertel, a maestro on vintage organs, pianos, and Wurlitzers, along with drummer Julian Gutjahr laid down a steadfast rhythm base. Notably, the inaugural session birthed a repertoire of original tunes, paving the way for the band’s electrifying gigs and future releases.
Musicians: Julian Gutjahr on drums; David Nesselhauf on bass; and Christoph Haertel on keyboards.
Buy One Finger Only.