Precedent for Organ Trio + Vocalist?

[AccuJazz]

Hey, I was wondering whether any of you know about any notable recorded precedents for vocalists being backed by organ trios. It seems a natural fit to me, but off the top of my head I can't really think of any. I'm sure there have been some (maybe there was a Sarah Vaughan album?), but I can't think of it right now. Anyway, I'm in an organ trio that just was told by a venue that if we add a singer, we can play some high-paying weekend gigs. Sounds good to me. I'm just looking for some inspiration from the masters on how this might ideally sound. Thanks!

[mikeweil]

There are at least two Irene Reid CDs backed by an organ trio. Savant or High Note is the label.

Maybe Etta Jones, too, on Prestige ...

[WD45]

There are those 4 cuts on Jimmy Smith's Softly As A Summer Breeze album with vocalist Bill Henderson.

[Joe G]

Betty Joplin w/McDuff.

And coming soon: organissimo w/Freddie Cunningham!

Edited March 26, 2009 by Joe G

[AccuJazz]

Man, you guys are quick! Thanks for the tips. Looks like there's some organ on Etta Jone's "Love Shout," but allmusic says there's piano at the same time. Kind of weird. Might be worth a listen anyway. I think I might order the Jimmy/Bill and one Irene CD from Amazon. Thanks again, and, please, if anyone else has suggestions, please speak up!

[AccuJazz]

Cool! I'll look forward to the Organissimo CD! Also, I just remembered that one of my favorite vocal CD's from last year, Kate McGarry's "If less is more..." features the inimitable Gary Versace on organ, but it's tends towards a more modern, less soul-jazzy sound and also has bass on all the tracks.

[Joe G]

Didn't know about that one - Versace is one of my favorites.

[Niko]

neither an organ trio nor something you can play nowadays literally (imho), but how about the doug and jean carn albums...

[Jim Alfredson]

And coming soon: organissimo w/Freddie Cunningham!

Yep. Gonna start tracking probably in May.

[mikeweil]

There are those 4 cuts on Jimmy Smith's Softly As A Summer Breeze album with vocalist Bill Henderson.

Of course! Babs Gonzales recorded another four tracks with the Jimmy Smith trio released on 45s, reissued on Japanese LP and the Babs Gonzales Blue Note CD.

[AccuJazz]

I just got back from the Jazz Record Mart here in Chicago where I bought "Softly As a Summer Breeze." That was fast! Not only are the vocal tracks great (only first heard Bill Henderson a couple months ago when I got his newest CD, Beautiful Memory), but it's really great to hear Philly Joe with an organ trio.

[AllenLowe]

well I just found some old Capitol tracks with Bus Moten on organ and vocals - 1949 -

[AccuJazz]

well I just found some old Capitol tracks with Bus Moten on organ and vocals - 1949 -

Where did you find those?

[AllenLowe]

on a collection of old Capitols, reissued on CD: Kansas City Blues

three cds, lots of Jay McShann, Julia Lee, Walter Brown -

don't know if it's still available -

[JSngry]

Dodo Greene

I think Ella might've done a Pablo side w/organ, but that's not my field of expertise.

[Dan Gould]

Dodo Greene

I think Ella might've done a Pablo side w/organ, but that's not my field of expertise.

Actually, Ella's These Are The Blues has Wild Bill Davis on organ.

[JSngry]

Was there also a Pablo?

[paul secor]

Was there also a Pablo?

Jackie Davis plays organ on Ella's Lady Time.

[AllenLowe]

anybody mention a certain 1956 session with JIMMY SMITH (anybody ever heard of him?) and a famous bebop vocalist?

[paul secor]

anybody mention a certain 1956 session with JIMMY SMITH (anybody ever heard of him?) and a famous bebop vocalist?

See post #10 - tho I believe it was 2 cuts w. B.G., not 4.

Edited April 1, 2009 by paul secor

[AllenLowe]

gotcha - and yes, it was 2 cuts, as I was listening to the session this morning - be happy to burn a CDR for anybody who wants to hear it-

[Teasing the Korean]

Procol Harum.

[Soul Stream]

Trudy Pitts sings on some of her old Prestige dates. Also, Joey Defrancesco did an album with Joe Pesci aka "Joe Doggs" or something like that...he also did one with Jane Siegel (?)...don't know if it's still available or note. There's some albums with Groove Holmes and Dakota Stanton...Groove Holmes and Jimmy Witherspoon....Jimmy McGriff with Junior Parker....Jack McDuff with Jimmy Witherspoon. George Benson sings on a couple on his early Columbia recordings with Lonnie Smith. Lonnie Smith cut a great CD with Johnny Adams called "One Foot In The Blues"..... Bu Pleasant cut one album on Muse, she sings and plays organ on that....Rhoda Scott's early Prestige LPs have her vocal group on it that's pretty cool. Also, yeah...the Irene Reed is awesome, Charles Earland plays on one of those, killer. There's probably lots more.

[waldo2384]

Joe Mooney was singing and accompanying himself on organ back in the early 40s.

[GA Russell]

As I recall, Mark Murphy's first and third Muse albums, Bridging a Gap and Sings, include organ. Prior to that, his second Riverside album from I think '63 called That's How I Love the Blues has organ.