Jim Alfredson

By the way, I just wanted to say it was a real pleasure meeting Conn in person. I've met very few of the members here... only one person that I didn't know before they signed up (Bill Fenohr) and it was great to talk to Paul and Brian and hang out. I'll be sure to post details about our upcoming tour in October to support our Clearwater Florida gig and we'd love to meet more forum members along the way! Thanks again, Conn for your kind words and for hanging with us tonight!

Thank you Conn! As Joe stated at the gig, we didn't know quite what to expect with that venue but we had a lot of fun! Next time we play there I think we'll bring Ron Blake with us. You gotta hear that man live. He's something else.

Hey it's not just me. Frarey was quoting someone who said they didn't like organists because they use those "homemade changes". I can make the changes anything I damn well please. That's the beauty of kickin' bass!

Really?!? The issue that's on newstands now?! Shit... I gotta go get a copy! Did they give the web address?

We are playing in Lansing on August 2nd at the Lansing Jazz Fest. Lansing is about an hour from Ann Arbor. We play at 5:30pm for one hour.

But what if his solo is groovin' so hard you don't want it to stop?!

I played alto in middle/high school marching band in order to please my mom. She never forced me to, mind you. But she was always so excited to come see me march at the football games. She came to every single one. She was a sweetheart. I wish I had kept playing alto and found a teacher that could actually teach me something. Our band director was an idiot. I could never get the tone I wanted out of the instrument so I gave up. I recently bought a tenor and I'm trying to re-learn.

Man, that's pretty lame. I saw this in the used bin and almost bought it but bought the new Charlie Hunter instead. I'm glad I made my choice. I remember thinking, "Joe Doggs? Who the hell is that and why is Joey making a record with him?"

I have Vol. III on LP with Jimmy Smith! I'd love to see the footage of that!

Go get 'em Joey!

Yeah, it's always been there, although I didn't know about it until some time ago. I made a post awhile ago and also put it into the pinned "Welcome To The Organissimo Forums - Please Read" thread.

I think my biggest problem in the jazz program I took part in is that I felt that there was little or no respect for my instrument. I play organ. I am not a pianist in any way shape or form. I play organ. That's it. Piano and organ are two completely different instruments with totally different techniques and physical demands. When I went into the jazz program they made me play piano, even though they had a beautiful mid-60s B3 with a 122RV Leslie sitting in the same room in the corner. It drove me nuts! I don't want to play piano. I play ORGAN! I enjoyed learning Horace Silver solos and listening to Bud Powell. They are obviously two strong influences on Jimmy Smith. But I hated having to be in a combo with a bassist that couldn't even play an F-blues without reading the individual notes off the page! The whole time I'm thinking, "Jesus, I could play a better bass line than this chump with one foot!" (haha!) It wasn't until mid-way through my second year that they let me play organ but then when I started bringing in stuff by Larry Young I would get shot down by the department head because he didn't like that stuff. He thought it was "cornball". I did learn a lot in school, but to be obvious I've learned WAY more by playing in the scene and I'm not even talking about the jazz scene ('cos there isn't one here really). I've been playing with an R&B band for the past five or so years and I've learned so much more with them than I ever had in school about music, presentation, audiences, drug use and abuse, booking, etc.

Randy, excellant points. This has been discussed recently on the board via this thread: So how's your local jazz scene? The audience can't be forgotten or ignored. We as a trio have discussed this before and I've come to realize that even if it appears that people aren't listening, they actually are. They're just waiting for something to grab their attention. It could be a song, it could be some banter from the stage... I think you've noticed I've been trying to go Cannonball on the audience and talk to them and talk about the songs with them and include them into the music-making process. Personally, I can't wait for our gig tonight. I think we're going to have a blast and I'm making it my responability to make sure the audience has a blast, too!

Got six of 'em today. Damn, that was fast! Now I got some good listening for the ride to and from the gig tonight and tomorrow! Woot!

JSngry, this McGriddle fetish is starting to worry me. Don't tell me you're giving up playing to become one of those guys that stands out in front of the Math & Sciences building at the local university usually spouting off about Creationism... but in your case... a certain strange and mystical fast food product.

slsmcgrew, Organ playing has changed a lot since the Jimmy Smith days. Jimmy Smith was a monster and no one can touch what he did, but he also spawned a lot of imitators that weren't very interesting. Personally, I love listening to almost any organist, but I can understand why some people don't like it. That said, some of the modern players are doing some really nice things with it. I love Larry Goldings' playing... he has a very relaxed approach. A few years ago on the Hammond usenet (those wackos) someone posted a clip of Larry live, burning through Coltrane's "Cousin Mary" and remarked "Damn, the guy can really smoke. Why doesn't he play this way on his records?" Well, he does smoke on his records, but in a different way. Another organist I love is Dan Wall. A buddy of mine calls him the Bill Evans of the organ. He definately approaches the instrument from a pianist's viewpoint and plays it in a non-traditional way. His chords are gorgeous. With our group, we're trying to do our own thing with the organ trio, but still rooted in the tradition. My musical influences are far and wide and I'm not afraid to throw those in the mix. Joe comes from a varied musical background as well. We're not traditionalists in the sense that we think the music has to be a certain way. More in the sense that we recognize and have studied it's roots to the best of our abilities (and we're still absorbing it) but we're not necessarily trying to copy that. Ok, I'll shut up about that now. couw, good idea. I'll see if I can do that.

The only time I've ever had a flat was about 2 years ago and I had two of them within a month of each other. Both on the highway. I hate that shit. Sorry to hear that, dude. But how did the gig go?

Any cavities filled? Ba-dap BOOM chit! Hey, Mr Sangry will be here all week folks. Try the veal, it's delicious. Thank you!

Thanks for the warning, although I doubt I would be as brave as you to begin with!

Man, this is getting out of hand. Everywhere you look, on every channel, on the radio, it's Kobe this, Kobe that. ENOUGH!

Peter, consider writing a review for the CD on our CDBaby page. Or at the least, let us know what you think!

Since his birthday was on Tuesday, we'll definately be doing some of his tunes along with a little tune inspired by him that I wrote. Joe and I got together tonight to work out some things and it felt good! I think we're gonna have fun this weekend! I hope you make it out, Conn. Please introduce yourself.

Anybody?

I picked up the Hodges/Davis date too and they said it was backordered. Anyone else get this?

Damn, Big Al. Good memory. I actually didn't get any of those BMG's. I got the bill in the mail (they want you to pay first now) and the wife saw it and said "No!" We're buying a house right now, so she has the right away, if you know what I'm saying. I'll probably try signing up again for BMG. This time, I'm paying with the old plastic!