about organissimo:
Organist Jim Alfredson and guitarist Joe Gloss originally met in 1997 at Michigan State University. Together they co-lead various groups before meeting drummer Randy Marsh in the fall of 2000. His experience and leadership served as the last piece of the puzzle and organissimo was born. With its blend of raw talent and original music, organissimo quickly became one of the most popular organ-based trios of the greater midwest.
"organissimo invigorate[s] the organ trio tradition with fresh takes on the genre... eclectic... classic... inventive... " ~ Bill Milkowski on JazzTimes.com, Sept. 2006
organissimo's goal is to extend the tradition of the classic organ-led combos of the 1960s into the modern age. Buildling upon the solid foundation laid by the past masters, but incorporating modern elements, organissimo focuses on original material and cultivating a true group sound. All three members contribute equally and bring their diverse musical backgrounds to the band.
"The group's toned, muscular playing keeps the crowd rapt, a condition noticeable by the fact that almost no one is talking." ~ Elvis Mitchell (New York Times, Detroit Free Press) describing a performance at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit
organissimo's music has received numerous local and national awards including the 2003 WYCE Jammy Best Jazz Album for their CD "Waiting For The Boogaloo Sisters..." (which features prominent New York saxophonist Ron Blake). The CD was also named one of the Best Releases of 2003 by Jim Wilke's Jazz After Hours program, syndicated on over 60 NPR stations nationwide.
organissimo's sophomore album, "This Is The Place", hit #19 on the JazzWeek charts and an impressive #4 on the CMJ charts, unprecendented for a self-produced, self-released CD. It also won two WYCE 2006 Jammie Awards for Best Jazz Album and Album of the Year, and was nominated for 2006 Detroit Music Award. Like it's predecessor, it was named one of the Best Releases of 2005 by Jim Wilke 's Jazz After Hours program in Seattle, WHRV in Virginia Beach, WBEZ in Chicago, WVIA-FM in Pittston PA, WBLV Blue Lake Public Radio, WLNZ in Lansing, WEMU in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, KXJS in Sacramento, and WYCE in Grand Rapids, Jazz 90.1 in Rochester NY, Real Detroit Weekly Magazine, the Detroit MetroTimes and the Lansing City Pulse. NPR also featured the CD as a part of its Open Mic series.
organissimo has performed at venues and festivals across the US and internationally including the famous Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, The Green Mill, The HotHouse, and Andy's Jazz in Chicago, the 2003 Clearwater Jazz Holiday, the 2005 Idlewild Music Festival, the 2006 Chicago Jazz Festival, the 2006 and 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival, the 2006 Syracuse Jazz Festival, and the 2007 Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival in Israel, among others.
Individual Bios:
Jim Alfredson - Hammond B3 | Joe Gloss - guitar | Randy Marsh - drums
