Organ Jazz

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electric organ

As described in “Jazz overview and mechanical performance“, jazz started as a spontaneous and informal music played by musicians who lacked academic knowledge and sufficient funds, and the range of instruments gradually increased during its development. Live instruments such as guitars, violins and brass instruments used in brass bands (trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxophones), often hand-made, entered the scene early on, while symphonic instruments such as flutes and various woodwinds and organs were expensive and therefore appeared delayed.

Lawrence Hammond began research into electrifying pipe organs, which at the time were only used in churches, and invented the electric organ in 1935, which incorporated a synchronous motor based on the principle that ‘metal moving in a magnetic field produces an electric current’ and drawbars to enrich the sound. In 1935, he invented the electric organ, which incorporated a drawbar to enrich the sound.

The electric organ is characterised by a warm, wavering tone due to a sounding principle known as the ‘tone wheel’. The ‘tone wheel’ is a metal gear wheel that generates a magnetic field as it rotates, which induces electromagnetic induction with the coil to produce a sine wave, which is amplified by a preamplifier to produce various musical scales in an analogue manner.

Because the Hammond organ was smaller and much less expensive than the traditional organ, it began to replace the piano in countless small nightclubs and cafés across the country, and ‘organ trios’ (usually consisting of organ, drums and either guitar or saxophone) became a small combo of became one of the most common instrumental combinations.

History of organ jazz

Thomas Fats Wheeler is among the first generation of organ jazz musicians.

Count Basie received organ lessons from Wheeler, who occasionally recorded as organist while playing piano as bandleader of a big band called the ‘Count Basie Orchestra’.

Organ jazz players often switch from piano, and Bill Davis, who was the pianist in Louis Jordan’s jazz group Timpany Five, became one such player.

He studied the various combinations of sounds on the electric organ and became the first jazz musician to overcome the problem of swinging on the electronic organ when he recorded with Duke Ellington, who liked the idea of a jazz organ.

Until then, the organ had major problems with sustaining sounds and chords. Holding down a key for just a second too long tended to create a legato effect that detracted from the true sense of jazz, while too short a duration tended to give the impression of stilted staccato, but Bill Davis solved such problems.

An early organ-jazz performer who switched from piano was Jackie Davis. He does not tend towards a ‘wild’ sound like Bill Davis, and his tasteful, sometimes relaxed solos can be heard.

Jimmy Smith emerged in the late 1950s to become the first best-selling jazz organist and a musician who established himself as the founder of a whole new school.

Smith’s greatest strengths were, firstly, his phenomenal speed and technique, both manual and pedal, and his unprecedented use of a wide variety of stops. Hearing him play the blues at a frenetic up-tempo is said to be an experience comparable to hearing a message come out in Morse code with great vigour after a lifetime of watching flag signals.

Later, organ jazz developed into various forms, with Larry Young playing with Miles Davis and contributing to the development of fusion music, and young musicians such as Joey DeFrancesco emerging and attracting attention with their performances, continuing the traditional style but incorporating contemporary elements. Organ jazz is developing in various forms.

Furthermore, the evolution of digital technology and effectors has made it possible for contemporary organ jazz to pursue a variety of sounds, and organ tones have become richer and more expressive.

Where to hear current organ jazz and live music in Japan

Organ jazz today continues to evolve, drawing on the traditions of the past while incorporating contemporary elements. Leading artists in the organ jazz scene include Joey DeFrancesco, Dr Lonnie Smith and Cory Henry.

In Japan, live music venues and jazz clubs where organ jazz can be enjoyed include Blue Note Tokyo, Cotton Club, Jazz Club SAMURAI, Mr. Kelly’s, Jazz Onian (Jazz On Top),
– A club in Nakatsu, Osaka, where you can enjoy quality performances in a homely atmosphere. Organja Live Spot RAG, Motion Blue Yokohama, Nagoya Blue Note and Kobe Jazz Street.

These places and events regularly host live organ-jazz performances and offer high quality performances.