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What do u call blues music that uses the organ?

February 28th, 2010 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

I’m trying to classify blues music that uses the organ as a background sound, synthesized.

In blues, use of the organ is not unknown. My brother Martin notes jazz great Jimmy Smith and nails the information as usual. The organist I associate most with the blues is Sid Winfield, who played with Luther Allison for years before Luther fled to Europe. (Sometimes he’s erroneously confused with Pete Wingfield and publications spell it "Sid Wingfield".) Sid resurfaced with the blues/soul outfit Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows, now called The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings. Sid plays a Hammond B3 with a Leslie Speaker. I never saw him use anything but that in performance, into the late 80s before Big Twist died.

You can see Sid having fun on the B3 in this live clip of Big Twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeuHWGqj_GA&feature=PlayList&p=A70B52C28F1A5D1E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=56

Gregg Allman can’t play his way out of a wet paper bag, as evidenced by the video. Why else did the Allmans hire Chuck Leavell? One reason must be is so many people think it’s Gregg playing the piano on "Jessica" when in fact it’s Chuck. Gregg’s strengths are composing and singing.

I’ve seen Gregg perform live twice: the first time during the Eat A Peach tour and the second as a big band solo act. The first show, he played rudimentary chords as Dickey Betts played guitar solos. The second time former Wet Willie frontman Jimmy Hall stole the show by performing "Keep On Smilin". I went to the Eat A Peach concert because Freddie King was opening. His organist, Duke Jethro of Mississippi, far outshone Gregg.

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  1. martin couch
    March 1st, 2010 at 02:22 | #1

    The first name that comes to mind is Jimmy Smith. Although much of his music was heavily blues influenced, it was always considered Jazz.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1OK1eTH60&feature=related
    Since Jazz is a direct descendant of the Blues, the similarities are quite apparent in the repertoire of many Jazz artists.
    References :

  2. Melting Media
    March 1st, 2010 at 03:09 | #2

    In blues, use of the organ is not unknown. My brother Martin notes jazz great Jimmy Smith and nails the information as usual. The organist I associate most with the blues is Sid Winfield, who played with Luther Allison for years before Luther fled to Europe. (Sometimes he’s erroneously confused with Pete Wingfield and publications spell it "Sid Wingfield".) Sid resurfaced with the blues/soul outfit Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows, now called The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings. Sid plays a Hammond B3 with a Leslie Speaker. I never saw him use anything but that in performance, into the late 80s before Big Twist died.

    You can see Sid having fun on the B3 in this live clip of Big Twist.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeuHWGqj_GA&feature=PlayList&p=A70B52C28F1A5D1E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=56

    Gregg Allman can’t play his way out of a wet paper bag, as evidenced by the video. Why else did the Allmans hire Chuck Leavell? One reason must be is so many people think it’s Gregg playing the piano on "Jessica" when in fact it’s Chuck. Gregg’s strengths are composing and singing.

    I’ve seen Gregg perform live twice: the first time during the Eat A Peach tour and the second as a big band solo act. The first show, he played rudimentary chords as Dickey Betts played guitar solos. The second time former Wet Willie frontman Jimmy Hall stole the show by performing "Keep On Smilin". I went to the Eat A Peach concert because Freddie King was opening. His organist, Duke Jethro of Mississippi, far outshone Gregg.
    References :

  3. Gary F
    March 1st, 2010 at 03:55 | #3

    You’ll like this. Gregg Allman on a Hammond B-3 with BB King and some other cool cats.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXlbG9IoYlI
    References :

  4. Eric T
    March 1st, 2010 at 04:33 | #4

    B-3 Blues And Grooves – Ron Levy
    Greasy Spoon – Hank Marr
    References :

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