Jim Alfredson

I only bring it out once and while when playing with Organissimo. When I play with the R&B band, I use it for piano, horns, strings, Rhodes, Wurlizter, clavinet, nutty synth solos, etc. With the big "O" I just use it for Rhodes and Wurli, mainly. It has very convincing electric piano patches (back me up, Paul, Chuck, or Greg!) but it's a beast to haul around. I think it weighs about 40lbs or so. Randy wanted me to bring it out for the Firefly gig, so I did. I only used it on three tunes.

Cool pic!

Kinda dark, but Randy's back there playin' the skins and you can see my trucker stickers on the Yammy:

Shot from Paul's neice's vantage point (catesta, she was a cutie!)

Another group shot. Notice I Photoshop'd out the beer stain on my shirt!

Paul sent me the pics, so here goes: Chuck and Paul maxin' and relaxin'!

Can you tell if the noise is electric and coming from the internal speakers or mechanical?

I dug out my CD of The Meters this past weekend and have been groovin' to their funky junk as I do my little errands around town. Some of you may remember that I stole Zigaboo's drumbeat to "The Hand Clapping Song" as the basis for our "Clap Yo Hands". The Meters are so inspiring to me... so simple and yet complex. Funky and fun and raw. Give it up!

Thanks for the advice, Chandra. I'll show this to my wife. She's already on a Yahoo discussion forum about Chiari, although the doc we saw in Ann Arbor doesn't seem to think that's the cause of her problems.

If it's mechanical you shouldn't run it. It probably means it needs oiled badly. I know the tech is expensive, but if it's making weirs whining noises, that can be a bad sign.

One of the funniest signs I've ever seen was right here in Lansing at Coral Gables, a restaurant/bar that has been here forever. For a few weeks the sign read: I wish I would've gotten a picture of that.

A high pitched sound? Are all the drawbars pushed in? Is the sound coming from the speakers or is it mechanical, as in something needing lubricated?

The only difference between an A-100 and a B3 is that the A-100 has internal speakers and reverb built-in. So you have two 12" speakers in there, driven by a tube amp that a B3 does not have, and a reverb unit which a B3 also does not have. Other than that, they are identical.

It's a huge festival. Lots of $$$ involved. I'm sure you have to know the right people and/or have some serious managment/label power behind you. Of course it's worth a shot.

Turn the black chorus knob to C3 and then push both tabs for chorus/vibrato on. It should make the weird motorboat sound.

Here's a little trick. It is not the board that's the problem. It's the vibrato scanner. The scanner can be seen from the back. It's on the left side, underneath the keys. It looks like a big motor (that's what I thought it was). It's round. Like this: Turn the chorus/vibrato on while the organ is on so you can hear the motorboating sound. Take the handle-end of a screwdriver and gently rap on the scanner. Try it a few times and it should dislodge the oxidation. If it doesn't help after a few good whacks, then it needs cleaned. It'll need cleaned eventually anyway... but this should buy you somet time! I would not try cleaning it yourself. A lot of wires to remove, a lot of screws to take out, and little parts that can get lost easily. $250 is not a bad price.

Have a record label?

Is it doing the choppy "motorboating" sound I was describing earlier?

Looks like she has a new CD out that's solo organ. Cool! http://www.bebabrecords.com/en/

B-)

She is a pedal monster. Her pedal technique is ridiculous. I wish she would do more small-group records, although I have enjoyed parts of her last few records. My favorite of hers is one that was on the Enja label with just a quartet. Mitch Watkins on guitar, Ronnie Burrage on drums, and Ray Anderson on trombone (that's not you, is it?) I like that record because the small line-up allows everyone to stretch out, including Dennerlein. I'd love to see her live. I think she did a double-bill on a Pete Fallico produced organ show on the west coast last year with Rhoda Scott. That would've been a great show to see. How long did you play with her?

I know that, of course. She's just down. I made her a nice dinner tonight and she seemed better.

Yeah, the A-100s are starting to go for real money because people are getting wise. They are exactly like a B3, just with internal speakers and goofy woodwork.

Hey, music brings us together regardless of politics. Greg is a real nice, courteous cat. And Paul is a real gentleman. Who knew righties and lefties could get along so well? A lesson for the board, indeed! I don't know what that spot is on my shirt. I probably had a "soda-lanch" just prior to getting up for the photo. Okay, I admit it... I was CRAZY DRUNK!!!! HELL YEAH!!! *burp*

The appointment sucked. The doctor looked her over, got the whole story about the symptoms, their onset, our consultations with other doctors, etc., he looked over her MRI films and then said, "Well, I agree with the MSU Neurologist. Meaning I have no idea what's wrong." He explained that she does has a Chiari Malformation but the spinal fluid is still able to flow around it so he doesn't think that's the source of her problems. He said we should go see a neurologist that specializes in the "hard to diagnose". When asked if he recommended anyone, he just said, "I'm sure they have someone at UofM". Thanks. Right now we're trying to get into the Mayo Clinic. My wife has been pretty bummed out since the appointment. She told me the other day that she feels "worthless". I'm doing my best to make her feel better... it's all so frustrating.