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Start with Jimmy Smith, who almost invented the sound of jazz organ. In general, avoid his big-band stuff; when he's in a trio, he's at his best. "Blue Bash!", which is just him and Kenny Burrell is awesome. He played with guitarist Burrell for years, and they know each other backwards; listening to them solo is wonderful. The live CDs are pretty good, too.
Reuben Wilson. He's good.
Mike Carr - British jazz player. In his late sixties when I saw him five years ago, absolutely stunning. Got a CD of his if anyone wants a burn. Brilliant, witty solos, jumping sixties' style jazz. Top bloke, top organist, plays pedal parts at 240bpm and doesn't blink.
James Taylor Quartet. Seriously. Nothing to do with the folk guitarist; avoid their shitty acid jazz noodlings and grab the early stuff (Mission Impossible, Money Spyder) and the live albums (Live in Manchester, Absolute). Live in Manchester is incredible; the fourteen minute funk workout that is Valhalla is genius. And if you can ever see them live, do; they know their funk and they know how to work a crowd. Nothing beats the whole audience doing acapella renditions of the Starsky and Hutch theme. Most recent CD, The Oscillator, is surprisingly great; it opens with a screaming funk cover of Jesus Christ Superstar. Wish I lived nearer Kent; James mentioned giving Hammmond lessons to me. I play a fair bit - have a drawbar module - and to a) play the real thing and b) be taught by him would be fantastic. I learned all my early jazz/funk riffs from him.
If you want an MP3 CD of Hammond stuff, I might be able to sort you out. If anyone wants more technical playing info on how the damn things work, just ask. And if anyone wants stuff about church organs, I've played for a while and my Dad's a very keen/serious church organist (think: big, German/French turn of the century; Vierne is fun) so I can always provide info on that.
I heard the Hammond and fell in love. It's a wonderfully versatile instrument. The control some of its exponents have over it is remarkable; watching Mike Carr was incredible. Right hand playing melody, left playing chords, right foot gunning the swell pedal, left foot picking out bass parts, all like a band in unison. Unbelievable.
Corduroy are OK but get tiresome about halfway through the double album of theirs I have.
There's a holy trinity of electric keyboard instruments: Hammond Organ (B3 and C3, basically), Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet. The Clavinet's wonderful; good exponents of that are Stevie Wonder (obviously for Superstition) and Herbie Hancock, who guns it throughout Headhunters.
I am, as you can tell, a keyboard jazz/funk gimp. But hey. I gots the chops to back it up, too... |
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