Deirdre Cartwright: ORGANIK
10th July 2026
Album release (CD & digital): Friday 10 July 2026
Wednesday 15 July – launch concert at PizzaExpress Live (Soho)
“Deirdre Cartwright is a deeply expressive guitarist who produces finely wrought, bluesy, soulful melodic lines.” Kevin Le Gendre, Jazzwise
Deirdre Cartwright returns with ORGANIK, her first album in 15 years – an uplifting recording that reflects on the guitarists who have shaped her musical journey while introducing new original material.
At the heart of the album is a dynamic organ trio featuring Pete Whittaker on Hammond organ and Gary Hammond on percussion. Whittaker draws on a rich hard-bop tradition, having worked with leading UK artists including Art Themen and John Etheridge, while Hammond adds colour and rhythmic depth, drawing on his experience performing with Nina Simone and The Beautiful South. Stripping the sound back to its essence, Cartwright plugs her Gibson guitar directly into a Fender amplifier, using no effects, resulting in is a warm, resonant tone, complemented by classic Hammond textures and inventive, atmospheric percussion.
ORGANIK opens with a fresh interpretation of ‘Eleanor Rigby’, inspired by Wes Montgomery, combining octave phrasing with a sensitive arrangement. Three new Cartwright compositions feature prominently: the lilting, 6/8 ‘One for Polly’, the Latin-tinged ‘Mango Bango’, inspired by her time at the Bequia Blues Festival and the funky, blues-infused ‘Espresso Martino’, a nod to Pat Martino.
A tribute to Emily Remler is heard in ‘Softly, as in a ‘Morning Sunrise’, while the trio explores a brooding take on ‘You Don’t Know Me’ in the spirit of Ray Charles. A dynamic ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ shifts between Latin and swing and a cinematic reimagining of Sultans of Swing evokes a desert-like landscape. The album closes with a haunting rendition of ‘The Gentle Rain’ by Luiz Bonfá.
“I made this album for me, wanting to move away from effects pedals and play without the distraction of technology,” reflects Cartwright. “Playing with Pete and Gary brought spontaneity, imagination and creativity to the whole process – I had a lot of fun making this record.”