^Groove^: Blues

Allen Batts

Organist for Albert Collins on Cold Snap & Showdown.

Dick Heintze

Famous pianist, recorded on organ with Roy Buchanan.

Bill Holloman

Another horn/keyboard player, he lays down some funky B-3 grooves on Danny Gatton's 88 Elmira Street.

Robert (James?) Hooker

Contributed by Allen Kaatz (highnote@eskimo.com)

He has been a session musician in Memphis for many years, and was a member of the group The Amazing Rhythm Aces, who were a Memphis group that had a couple hits in the late 70's, sort of a country/soul influenced group. According to Russell Smith, the group's singer, Robert was the organist on many of Al Green's recordings; check out the too cool organ on "Love & Happiness".

Dr. John

Mac Rebennack, a famous New Orleans pianist, has recorded often on organ. He's played with many musicians since the 50s, including Allen Toussaint, The Meters, David "Fathead" Newman and Art Blakey.

Deacon Jones

Organist who played with John Lee Hooker among others. Check out "Boogie at Russian Hill" on the Hook's Boom Boom.

Bruce Katz

Former member of Ronnie Earl's Broadcasters, he's formed his own band and has a couple of albums on Audioquest. He's a very talented Hammond organist and pianist who incorporates modal and avant-garde techniques with Blues and Jazz.

Larry Knechtel

He has some great guitar/organ "conversations" with Johnny Rivers on a collection of live recordings "John Lee Hooker" (EMI). The 16 minute title track is a real cooker (I'm running out of superlatives).

Ron Levy

A great organist who played with B.B. King in the 60s. He also played with Roomful of Blues, and has 4 solo albums. The latest, B-3 Blues and Grooves, is an excellent album showcasing this virtuoso's talent.

Malcolm Lukens

Organist who played for the legend of the Telecaster, Roy Buchanan.

Gene Ludwig

Contributed by William Pollak (wp@sei.cmu.edu) w/ discography

Gene began playing R&B in the early 1950s. He met Jimmy Smith at the Hurricane Lounge in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1957, and Ludwig says that Smith "taught me what the Hammond organ is all about." In the 1960s, Ludwig worked with Pat Martino and Sonny Stitt. He was the featured organist with Arthur Prysock's band from 1973-1975 and 1978-1979. For the past five years, Ludwig has been playing regional jazz festivals, including a "Battle of the Organs" at the 1989 Mellon Jazz Festival in Pittsburgh. In August 1992, he appeared with Jimmy McGriff and Charles Earland at the Pythodd Reunion in Rochester, N.Y. In August 1994, he played opposite "Papa" John DeFrancesco at the Shadyside Arts Festival in Pittsburgh. And, in November 1994, he was part of the Newark Jazz Festival in Newark, N.J., where he played on the same stage as Hank Marr, Lonnie Smith, John DeFrancesco, Shirley Scott, and Jimmy McGriff. Ludwig currently plays keyboard with the Billy Price Band in Pittsburgh.

Lucky Peterson

Discography

A child prodigy who appeared on Johnny Carson at the age of 5. He studied with Jimmy Smith and is a guitar virtuoso as well. He sings, composes and arranges, and his five albums are all worth picking up (Isabel/Evidence, 2 on Alligator & Verve each). He also plays Hammond on Junior Wells' latest Better Off with the Blues (Telarc) w/ Buddy Guy, as well as on Big Daddy Kinsey's tribute to Muddy Waters I Am The Blues & James Cotton's latest recording, (both releases from Verve, which has made a recent commitment to the Blues).

Otis Spann

Discography

Sweet Giant of The Blues, a most appropriate title, from one of his albums. *THE* best Chicago Blues pianist (period!), he recorded with many artists in the 1960's, including Muddy Waters (they considered themselves half-brothers), Buddy Guy, Johhny Shines, Floyd Jones, Eddie Taylor, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson.

His organ recordings are scarce, but are well worth the trouble of searching for. The title track from his Cryin' Time (Vanguard) is one of the most inspiring organ pieces I know. In fact, in terms of organ playing, it doesn't get any better than this track. There are a few more organ tracks on that album, plus a couple more on his recently reissued Chicago Blues (Testament/Hightone).

David Torkanowsky

Plays on Walter "Wolfman" Washington's Wolf Tracks (Rounder). He also replaced Art Neville at a Meters/JB Horns concert in Switzerland, available on CD from Lakeside Records at cdeurope.com or cdnow.com.

Johnny "Big Moose" Walker

Pianist; organist for the Son Seals Blues Band. Blues soul!

Reese Wynans

Played for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy, among others.

Tony Zamagni

Tone Cool Records recently released his first recording as a leader, Get Down With The Blues, with Duke Robillard, Houston Person and Bernard Purdie.

Jazz ~ Blues ~ Funk ~ Jazz-Funk ~ Acid-Jazz ~ Rock ~ Reggae

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