Masters of the B-3

[jazzboCR]

Charles Earland 2nd generation soul jazz by an absolute master. 35 discs in 35 years (and that's with a long hiatus after his wife died). A fixture in Philly and an inspiration to a generation of young players (organ, brass, guitar, etc.). I was blessed to see Mr. Earland a dozen times and he never, NEVER failed to excite. Nice guy too. The 1st para of his bio puts you in the picture: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charles-e.../biography
Never an ordinarily done tune but frequently a familiar one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MSfjMq38_s << these empathic players take this Grover Washington, Jr., tune to a special place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP5IpXgPl9c << this Santana tune never had it so good...starts sexy-slow then builds...Some mighty burnin' by his sidemen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4q2M0aXgU << a strong taste of why he's called "The Mighty Burner"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKTfha5CU6Y << twin organs (George Duke) just killin'--good convo on the front << remember your country's vets no matter how misbegotten the war they came home from was... << a shout-out to the drummer Buddy Williams--more than holds his own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXzO3P1AWAY << If there's such a thing as a typical disc, '88s Front Burner is it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eWS-djv_h4 << Jon Faddis AND Lee Morgan on trumpets, and Hubert Laws on flute--that all-star session enough for you? From '72's Intensity

BONUS 1: A concert length live wringing-out of that classic "Killer Joe" wrapped around 2 other tunes--the definitive version, for my money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IwSBvwnoNw << You want scandalous? YOU can be the 500th person to listen to this magnificent outing. Scandalously ignored. These guys take you to school, and the tune to church AND down in the alley. From his 5-star '70 disc, Black Live. Not a false note nor underused second on it. Let AMG further convince: http://www.allmusic.com/album/living-bla...0000593834

BONUS 2: An event organized in part by Mr. Earland (no apology for the pun): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1lrDucpjqM << uncork a fresh bottle * and hang in there, baby, for one swell ride.

** Apologies to those who've had to quit alcohol and had a hard time doing it...

[jazzboCR]

Richard "Groove" Holmes Early master of soul-jazz. Recorded from '61-'91 (played his last gigs in a wheel-chair before succumbing to prostate cancer). From the grittiest of blues to the most sentimental of ballads, he made them all his own with strong basslines and "...a superb harmonic and melodic edge." (AMG description)--Link #1 is a perfect demo of that. A very personable fan-fave in Philly/S. Jersey. Played frequently with Houston Person q.v.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Vsc3ws_6Q << His hit and what established in part the viability of soul-jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yVLSWZ8BbA << A variant of soul-jazz is funk jazz (see: Maceo Parker). This Celtic soul loves the freckles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo89u1-CizM << With all-time tenor master Gene "Jug" Ammons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yy8RQRpwsc << he and Jimmy McGriff did 3 albums together--all killer and all available at the Usual Suspect for a reasonable price. Essential.

BONUS 1: a superior soul-jazz/funk jazz album with Ernie Watts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9kTOxSt_sY << from '70 and vinyl-only--tough to find but obviously worth it.

[R_burke]

One of my favorites - Lee Michaels
[video=youtube;1wC5qVbXXBg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wC5qVbXXBg[/video]

[jazzboCR]

One of my favorites - Lee Michaels

Mine too and thanks for the clip. This Thread is sure not restricted to jazz organists--Alan Price and a few others are due coverage. Mr. Michaels was discussed here (3rd Post): http://www.music-discussion.com/showthread.php/15929-championing-the-unheralded-an-ongoing-thread

[R_burke]

Here's another guy more in line with your original posts. I've seen him a couple of times and have several of his releases
[video=youtube;YaZbejCykig]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaZbejCykig[/video]

[jazzboCR]

Joey D is DA BOMB...and his dad is almost equally skilled. More later.

[jazzboCR]

...and here it is. Joey DeFrancesco revived B-3 based soul-jazz in the '80's-'90's. Sure there were others playing well but he took the sub-genre national again, back into the public consciousness. Came by it honestly too-his dad "Papa" John DeFrancesco is a solid player as was his grandfather and there'll be a bit on Papa. Like father, like son, like grandson, in the most positive sense. Mr. D also plays trumpet and works especially well with reed/brass players. The bare facts are here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_DeFrancesco The discog is here: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joey-defr...iscography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syercy760YQ << a concert cut with John Schofield and Pat Martino. Sublime. The drummer is a dead-solid Philly guy and Mr. D's drummer of choice, Byron "Wookie" Landham.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUU-ScAcnW4 << the hippest product demo you'll ever see...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URPuFSHoupk << ...except for this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ikl8pnHz6k << With Houston Pearson from '93's Live at the 5 Spot. An essential disc--all manner of terrif players on it.

Mr. DeFrancesco has been an astute interpreter of others' jazz or pop offerings. Here's his take on an MJ song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb1b0l1Z70E << does an excellent job on Horace Silvers' work also--look for it.

BONUS 1: A concert from '99: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rul7LWnOP9A << Not least, it shows the joy he gives and gets from playing.
BONUS 2: a sitting-in concert with David Sanborn in '10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2gqRQetj_A
BONUS 3: concert in support of '07's Organic Vibes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEIRMQ4OZP8
BONUS 4: Any John McLaughlin fans here? You're gonna love this --ain't nothin' ethereal going on.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox8eYBFszuA

Side note: Joey D is morbidly obese and I hope he gets a handle on that--I'd hate to lose him early (he's 43).

[SteveO]

The Godfather was a respected and gifted B3 organ player!!!! There's a little trivia for most folks!!!

[video=youtube;Hfij1EYPUgo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfij1EYPUgo[/video]

[jazzboCR]

Great clip, SteveO--thanks for sharing. From a newly released album, recorded in '65--not on CD--vinyl or MP3 DL only. No way he could have made a rep or a living on the organ but it shows another side of him. A couple more, one from another album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HF2HDX6y_Q and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSrhLIUwjVQ Except for a big band outing with Louie Bellson in '69 *, I don't know of him venturing out of his funk comfort zone again.

* Excellent recording--look for it.: http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-on-top-mw0000738395

[jazzboCR]

You can bet heavily on this "in-the-pocket" pair of aces: "Dr." Lonnie Smith and "Captain" Jack McDuff

The Good Doctor--percolating, circulating but always building the tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du_tQ322t4U << full concert Good tech comments on the guitar For more on that OMG guitarist: http://www.jonathankreisberg.com/ << knocks'm dead in Hungary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARvagv1FPoE << full concert <<...righteous in Iowa USA too--using that same gtr. << this hold-over unknown drummer made his rep in just this set

The Captain--Been pleasin' folks with his good-time music since the '60's--a true original and a heckuva nice guy. His last recording, '01's Brotherly Love, is the one to get--reunites him with his mates from the '60's and is a wonderful career summation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tej_6DoQeY << Full album from '66
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnR8EoLTYZ8 << nicely done clip from '64. Commenter Dave Bass has it just right. Long way from this to "Breezin'"--oh well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbTtqS3X8ZM << From "68's The Natural Thing with Phil Upchurch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJkrpJUTag << ain't friendly competition great? Features a previously-unknown-to-me organist, Duke Jethro. Come to find out he's BB Kings's fave B-3 guy--who knew?