Soul Stream

here's my son...the naked organist.

Wow, this "worst of" is basically my "best of" list...HOT DOG, SLOW DRAG...hmmm those are always in heavy rotation at my house. I don't think Blue Note made any "dog" records. Some I don't "get" (Herbie Hancock "The Prisoner"), but alot of times I'm just not "there" yet. I hate to see stuff like Hot Dog or I Want To Hold Your or Am I Blue get the thumbs way down. Sometimes I think it's an negative organ bias. Those are organ classics.

To my knowledge, no CD of that session. Wish there were.

Duke Pearson may well be the "Middleweight Champion" of piano at Blue Note.

I think "COCKSUCKER" is a little harsh! but he's so cute when he says it.

Great news. Just talked to the great Leon Spencer Jr. In about 3 months, he's flying to NYC to record a new CD for an unnamed (to me at least) jazz label based out of New York.

Damn.... Why do I LIVE IN TEXAS!!!!!!???????!!!!

Always bummed the whole show(s) weren't available. Maybe the will be someday.

You're going to need more than a manual. If you're just needing to know how to turn it on, which drawbars to pull out, percussion and vibrato/chorus advice. Jim or I could tell you all that in a few sentences. Then just pull out your favorite organ record and begin to copy! (hey, it's the method we all used [and still use]).

By the way, A100s sound great by themselves. No leslie needed unlike B3s and C3s. Perfect for the house, no bulky leslie to take up a lot of space. I started on an A100 w/o leslie and I still love that straight A100 sound. Very pure.

GREAT@!!!!!! Yes, the pedals to come off. Just put both hands on either side of the pedalboard where it connects to the organ...slightly lift up (you'll fell it detach)...and pull away from the organ. Done. Damn....how come I never find B3s,C3s or A100s for $300!

yes, there's one of grant,burrell and barney kessell playing together in europe around 1970 or so I'd guess. It's on Jazz Guitar Masters Vol 1 or 2 (can't remember which one). Just one tune./ do you mean this one: "Legends of jazz guitar". Volume 2 i can't find anything under "Jazz Guitar Masters" Yes, that's it! (Just looked at mine to make sure). It's really cool to see Grant and Burrell is on fire. Barney Kessell too.

Yes, buy it. They are exactly like a B3. Hook it up to a leslie and you're Jimmy Smith. Does it have the pedals with it? If not, don't worry it's well worth the dough anyway. But be sure to ask for them if they are not on the organ now, they might be leaning against the wall forgotten. Depending on condition they usually go for about $1,500 to $3,500 it seems depending on a lot of things. $300 is a no brainer. Congrats!

yes, there's one of grant,burrell and barney kessell playing together in europe around 1970 or so I'd guess. It's on Jazz Guitar Masters Vol 1 or 2 (can't remember which one). Just one tune./

Yes, let's not even get started on why all sidemen resent singers (even good ones, that rare breed). It's the load in!

There's really an octave of preset keys for each manual for a total of 24. There are 4 sets of 9 drawbar clusters plus 2 drawbars for the pedals. Anyway, she got some of the numbers mixed up, but who wouldn't with all that going on! (Hey, and there's tabs, a dang knob and I'm not even going to go into the double-switch start/run fiasco to get the whole thing to turn on!) Anyway, thanks again eveybody for your nice comments.

I thought you were a guitar player?

Oh, I didn't know you wanted to become a funiture mover. Be careful what you ask for. Guitar is a much lighter instrument to gig on. I spend a good deal of every gig; hooking up my trailer, transporting, loading (trailer, stairs, stages), setting up, breaking down, unloading (stages, stairs, trailer), transporting, unhooking my trailer. It's a LOT of work. Somewhere in there I manage to play 2 or 3 or 4 sets of music. Needless to say, I'm very, very, very tired and 50 bucks richer by the end of the night (oh yeah, then you pay $200 to the organ repairman for a net loss of $150 B-) ). In contrast, the guitar player shows up about 10 minutes before we hit (long after I needed a hand loading in) and splits right after the last set. He's home by the time I'm getting the organ back in the trailer. And don't forget, you're not just hauling a 350 pound organ. There's the Leslie, heavy (and awkward) pedals, bench and then your little cable bag. At least 5 trips to the trailer and back coming and going. (Oh yeah, the you get to PARK the trailer and car. Finding a double spot is near impossible most of the time. Parking garages will charge you double the single car amount). I think you get the picture. Anyway, stick to guitar and you'll thank me later. Oh yeah, but I love it anyway.

One of the beautiful things about playing the B3 is that people are always so curious as to how the whole thing works and how it is played. Funny thing is, even after you explain it...people can still watch it...and STILL not get how the whole thing comes together to make music. Also, every jazz organist has their own take on the whole operation. I've never seen 2 guys play it exactly the same way. Watching and hearing Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ is different than say Mel Rhyne, ect.

Jazz organ basslines are created usually by a combination of left hand bass on the lower manual (keyboard) and foot bass utilizing the foot pedals. On ballads, sometimes the entire bass is pedals because you chord with one hand and play lines with the other. Pre-Modern era guys, say Milt Buckner or Jackie Davis would play all foot pedal bass. The sound is very heavy and doesn't swing as much. The basslines were very chromatic as you would imagine.

Like Lou Donaldson ALWAYS says in his shows... "We've had some requests. But we're going to keep playing anyway."

Yes, why battle the B3's when we could unite and rule the world!

I never battle on sunday.

Thanks Lon! Ghost, I don't know Lisa, but I sure do like her a lot

Uh..err...you ordered it too Jim?! Well, did I tell you Von's on it too! Seriously, I'd like to know your thoughts when you get a chance.