Programme > Artists > Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio (USA)

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio (USA)

The electric Hammond organ B-3 is a unique instrument that invaded the jazz and rhythm and blues scenes more than half a century ago especially thanks to three musicians, three major names: Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and of course Lonnie Smith. Today, Lonnie Smith is unfortunately the only one of the three still alive, but he shows no signs of losing vitality. On the other hand, his playing is as fervid as ever. And the musician himself today uses an artistic title, wears a picturesque turban and sports an elegant silver beard.

He gained much attention in the ‘60s as one of the prominent artists of Blue Note, a label pushing out tons of organ combo records to the market. But those made by Dr. Smith always stood out. Tens of his recordings saw contributions from saxophonists like David Fathead Newman, Lou Donaldson, Houston Person or style-defining guitarists such as Grant Green or George Benson, who in his later years of fame even invited Smith to join his own band. Raw souljazz themes, blues tension, similarity to the ascension of Afro-American pop music, creativity of spontaneous players with a supportive band leader - that’s the music of Lonnie Smith, strongly rooted but still instigating permanent movement.

It basically hasn’t changed at all, because its beauty remains. And that’s also the reason why Smith attracted a handful of generations younger musicians throughout the years, including one of the world’s best guitarists Peter Bernstein. These impulses also show up in the organ player’s own music: his album Boogaloo To Beck (2003) represented a sophisticated way of handling the elusive music of rocker Beck (Hansen).

And when Dr. Lonnie Smith barely touches the Hammond, sparkling musical fireworks, the excitement comes immediately. It’s not by accident that this notable and somehow rediscovered maestro of dark grooves and brisk playing has for years been a desired guest of top music festivals all across the world.