Soul Stream

I dig what he's doing on that video playing "Body and Soul" WITH Body and soul! He seems like a cat you don't run across much more in jazz these days...street guys with a story to tell. I would have like to have heard more (I wish there was audio with that picture w/lonnie and lou and spider!!!)

It still makes me wonder how I got to be so close to john. Too bad it was just a few years before his death, but I was glad to have the opportunity while it lasted. I moved to Boston and picked up an the Village Voice and saw where they were listing a Blue Note reuinion trio of Big John, Ben Dixon and George Braith. Man, I couldn't believe it! Those guys were my biggest heros, and as far as jazz organ was concerned, Big John was IT for me. So I drove and down and couldn't believe the gig has almost no turnout. (my first eye-opening experience). Anyway, I had brought some albums for those guys to sign and got to talking to them. John ended up inviting me over to his house so he could show me some stuff on organ, and the rest is history. Never asked for a penny, we just became friends and I used to drive out all the time and spend the weekend with him and his wife. Talked on the phone almost daily and he'd show me stuff over the phone too. Beautiful times. Anything I know, I owe ALL to john. Wonderful. I never felt worthy of the opportunity.

Who's Spider Martin....a damn BADASS! At least from this little video clip I found on the web....scroll halfway down the page and you'll see and icon for a video clip...check it out..Spider Martin Video

Yes, this is THE best Meters album of any era. "Just Kissed My Baby"....now THAT'S funk.

I think you simply have to be on a label and have good management that's tied into that. Just my jaded hunch.

Jim, The Meters are so good I can't listen to them too much. They MAKE you want to be them! My favorite Meters song is their version of "The Look Of Love." It's an alternate take on "The Meters" CD )their first album. It's GORGEOUS.

Marcello, When was this picture taken and where? Very cool. Also, who's Spider Martin? I'm not familiar with him I don't think.... Thanks again for the shot! GReat!!!!

Thanks for the recollections Marcello. Makes me wish I could go back in time with you for a look. That stuff about Lonnie was great. Never heard too much about him from that era from people who were there. Thanks again.

Yes, as I did on your behalf. B-)

That sounds good. Mmmm some Italian..I'm gettin' hungry (I had cereal for dinner damnit, now I'm starvin')

I remember a classical organist who was attended Univ of Texas used to come out a watch me play. He couldn't believe I was playing pedals with shoes on!!!! That's just stupid he used to say...always wanted to bring me some special booties they wear when they play the big pipe organs... booties and funk? Oh yeah, that's probably where bootsie came from.. B-)

Yes, but can you play pedals with sandals on like the Dr.! No sir. I play with shoes off. I can play with shoes, but it doesn't feel right. Really? That always felt freaky to me. You can't really "kick" the pedals w/o shoes on ...but slightly seriously, that little thump seems less thumpy with bare feet.

Yes, but can you play pedals with sandals on like the Dr.!

I guess I've seen enough organists to see that's there's several ways to skin a cat. McDuff, Patton, McGriff, Jimmy Smith....when I saw all those guys play, they weren't ghosting. Not until I saw Lonnie did I see one have that technique. By then I'd alread hooked up with Patton, he never stressed pedals other than accenting.

I never had a problem with left hand bass, just took practice. Most pianists just can't make a convincing switch. I never played piano, so it didn't bug me to do it.

My approach is probably closer to Lonnie Smith's. I ghost all the time, except on certain funk tunes where I use the pedals for accents and kicks. My pedal playing has gotten a lot stronger than it was when "Boogaloo" was recorded. I am much more comfortable with them now and they are almost second nature. Yeah, I'd like to see that. Leon Spencer told me that after he heard his own playing on Lou Donaldson's "Pretty Things" LP, he realized he was ghosting the notes a little too late and it wasn't syncing right. That's the feel I think I have when I ghost all the time...it doesn't sync as well.

Wish you could elaborate on your organ room days. What else about Groove can you recall? Another other names we'd know? Every see Lou Donaldson back then?

Eddie Baccus was a real guy. His son plays in that smooth jazz band "pieces of a dream" I think, (sax maybe)....I think tony monaco knows his son.

Aric, here's a story Joe Killian told me. He was the Chicago organist I referred to in my earlier post. What happened is that Baby Face had a full time gig at the Moraccon Village in Chicago. BFW asked for more money, so they fired him and hired Joe Killian to replace him but using BFWs band. Well, needless to say, BFW didn't dig that at all. So BFW's brother Frank would come down to the gig every day and "lean" on Joe. Say shit while they played and stuff like that. Then one day BFW walked in, listened for a while and walked up to Joe and said "You're stealin' all my shit," and walked out. Which was true, Joe was playing BFW's songs he'd learned of the Jukebox, the Argo 45 I think that had "Dad's Theme" and "Zip Five" (Joe can still sit down and reel those off at the drop of a hat. Anyway, Joe said BFW was tough cat. South side of Chicago in the early 60's, I guess you'd have to be. On the other hand, Big John Patton said he hung with BFW in Chicago once and had a great time. Went to his apt. and met his family....

Jim, I guess I'm still up in the air, about how much and when, as far as pedal use. To me, it can start sounding too heavy if it's not done right. As for myself, I use the pedals more when I'm comping than when I'm soloing, just laying on when there's an opening that feels right. Adam Scone's more consciencous about the pedals at all times. That's just my feeling. Dr. Lonnie's on the pedals a ton (more than anyone else I've seen personally). Ghosting the whole time....I just haven't felt enough of the difference in sound to make the effort as far as my playing (i'm thinking about other stuff most of the time, and 'ghosting' isn't second nature to me)...it just feels like too much bass all the time when I do it. I'm not really "there" yet. That takes a lot of mastery. Like to see you play and what's you're approach...when's the organissimo video comin' out!

This is a pretty varied crowd it seems. Still waiting for someone to say they work at McDonald's. Of course, not all of us "musicians" maybe disclosing our other line of work...(would you like fries with that? B-) )

Yes, Joe the new CD is a good one. Adam Scone plays on a couple of the tracks which turns up the grease level pretty well.

If you ever get your hands on the import only Lonnie Smith CD "Lenox and 7th"...Melvin Sparks is blistering on that...and it's mostly standards...with a mix of a few originals. He also does some great bebop on those organ sides w/Leon Spencer when they backed up Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons if memory serves. You can tell from the interview that he came from a time and place where playing bebop was a required part of the game.

I'd be interested in reading it, too and I'll even type it up for the forum. My address in on the homepage. Jim S., if you just want to send it to Jim A., I'll just read it when he types it up for the forum.... No biggie... thanks again for the offer.

WWWWOOOOOOWWWW!!! Can't believe the mystery's been solved. Amazing. I can vouch that BFW had a brother Frank as another organist playing in Chicago at that time told be all about seeing Frank out an about at the clubs. Apparantly, Baby Face and Frank were pretty rough and tumble guys. Too bad to hear about the actual fate of BFW. I actually had held out hope that he still might be alive. RIP BFW.