Jazz and the Hammond B

Two Recordings that are a must have. Lou Donaldson's greatest hits vol I & vol II, I believe on Blue Note. Lonnie Smith on the B3, Donaldson on the alto, Blue Mitchell on trumpet. I think Charles Earland also plays the B3 on Vol II. Vol I is more straight ahead jazz a la Jimmy Smith, but Vol II gets downright funky, a great party disc. The recordings were made I believe in the late sixties, and they sound pretty good. I love the B3 sound. Also, if you don't have Jimmy Smith's The Sermon, get it. There's my two cents!!!

Regards,
Chris P.

Love the Hammond B3!! Funkiest sound ever. Check out Shirley Scott's recordings. My favorites "Blue Flames" and "Soul Shouting" both with then husband the great Stanley Turrentine; both on Prestige. Sounds like you're a Jimmy Smith fan. If you don't have it already, "Prayer Meeting" also with Stanley Turrentine on Blue Note is my favorite. Great sound too. In a much more contemporary bag, Larry Goldings is one of the new B3 cats right now. Some of my favorite work of his is on Michael Brecker's "Time Is Of The Essence" on Verve (with Pat Metheny and Elvin Jones!!!)Cheers.

I just picked up the Rudy Van Gelder version of Jimmy Smith's "The Sermon" and it is a must have ($8.99 on sale at Tower!!)

My favorite Hammond player is DAN WALL however....he is part of the ABERCROMBIE trio that has recorded four CD's in the last 10 years or so. All are fabulous if you like modern jazz/fusion featuring Abercrombie's guitar (it's not traditional jazz like with Jimmy Smith). The recording that is amazing is "Tactics" which is a live recording in which the dynamics cause my Bryston 4B-ST to clip more than just occasionally. "Open Land" is outstanding, more traditional sounding, but does not feature Wall that much.

Another fav is John McLaughlin, Elvin Jones!, and the italian guy on organ who is quite amazing... Joey DeFransesco..... entitled "Tribute to Coltrane" (something like that, not sure on title). Joey has an recent album out with Jimmy Smith I believe.