Fri 11/15 @ 7PM
Organ trios have been a thing in jazz for many years. While the Hammond B3 organ may not be seen onstage a lot — toting one around is challenging for a start — acclaimed players such as Jimmy Smith, Lonnie Smith (no relation) and most recently Joey DeFrancesco, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 51, have popularized the instrument which also became associated with the sound of ’60s and ’70s soul music and ’70s prog rock.
One of the players carrying on the tradition is New York-based Pat Bianchi, whose current trio also includes two of his longtime associates, sax player Troy Roberts and drummer Byron “Wookie” Landham. The 48-year-old musician has built on the legacy of DeFrancesco and Lonnie Smith to create his own sound; he’s also done stints in the bands of such respected players as the late guitarist Pat DiMartino. He currently teaches at the noted Berklee College of Music in Boston, and he’s released ten albums as a band leader. His latest album Three showcases the jazz organ trio format on beloved standards such as “Stardust,” Cole Porter’s Hoagy Carmichael’s “Love for Sale” and Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek”; his previous album 2021’s Something to Say featured music by Stevie Wonder, another noted keyboard player.
The trio will be performing at the BOP STOP on Friday November 15. Get tickets here.
Cleveland, OH 44113