The Jazz Organ Fellowship
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The Jazz Organ Fellowship is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to the preservation of Jazz Organ music through live and recorded presentations, educational seminars and community outreach programs


Jazz Organ music is an American phenomenon, pure and simple.  An identifiable 'Jazz Organ sound' was standardized - thanks to Jimmy Smith - on an American-made, electro-mechanical device called the Hammond organ with the help of a sound modification device (also American-made) called the Leslie Tone cabinet.

Unlike most other instrumental music embraced by our society, Jazz Organ music has received much less attention through the years.  This music has been met with more apathy than support from writers, record producers, music promoters, club owners and educators.  Educational institutions have provided minimal opportunities for young jazz organists to learn and develop those skills necessary to excel.  The interest in this music, however, remains strong in spite of the slow developing curriculum.
With public awareness of Jazz Organ seemingly on the increase, the need to address this form of music through outreach programs, educational coursework and community events becomes more important.
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This year (2022) the Jazz Organ Fellowship will once again work with San Jose Jazz to produce our annual tribute.  They have offered us the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose on Sunday afternoon, August 12, 2022.  Tickets for this event will be handled by San Jose Jazz.  Our Honoree for this 14th Annual Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute will be TONY MONACO.  Tony will headline this show with a familiar trio comprised  guitarist, Bruce Forman and drummer, Darrell Green.

  
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Our Jazz Organ Fellowship will also be producing a Celebration of Life and Music for the late Dr. Lonnie Smith.  This show will also be in conjunction with San Jose Jazz and will take place on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 7:30 in the Susan Hammer Theater in downtown San Jose.  Organists to play include Akiko Tsuruga, Wil Blades and Ronnie Foster.  Peter Bernstein will play guitar, Donald Harrison will play saxophone and drummers Darrell Green and Akira Tana will keep the heartbeat going.  This promises to be a great event, so, plan on being there!

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While the sound of Jazz Organ remains attractive to young musicians, the actual instrumentation has shifted from the old tone-wheel technology of the Hammond organ to the sampled, digital applications of today.  Jazz Organ for this new millennium has been significantly reinforced by the release of numerous digital 'clones' of the original Hammond organ and its unique sound.  The fact remains, however, that this original sound is viable and worthy of preservation.  All this serves to strengthen the notion that Jazz Organ will not be ignored but rather will thrive for future generations of musicians - therefore the Jazz Organ Fellowship was created in 2004, and has been based in Oakland, CA, as a central location for fans of this art form. 

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Organist Wil Blades providing one-on-one instruction to a junior high student
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Organist Bobby Pierce speaking to a group of students at a recent JOF workshop
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Organist Wil Blades speakling to a class of high school music students

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Organaist Tony Monaco giving instruction

The Jazz Organ Fellowship aka JOF provides workshops within existing jazz camps and actually brings the organ combo into the music classes of junior high schools and high schools. 

Working with festival directors and band leaders, JOF attempts to fill in the gap that has existed for so many years in music education that is relative to Jazz Organ studies.

The history of this music is broken down in curricular fashion so as to explain the lineage of Jazz Organ music; its main proponents; and the significance of this genre within the wider musical spectrum. 

World class Jazz Organists are brought into the fold to contribute their experiential knowledge and demonstrate varied musical styles.

JOF strives to elevate the position of Jazz Organ in all aspects of the music world.

  • On April 29, 2019 The Jazz Organ Fellowship (JOF) donated a 1935 Hammond A model and a (circa) 1940s Leslie 31H 'Tall Boy' speaker to the 'Museum of Making Music' housed within the NAMM offices of Carlsbad, CA This Hammond organ and Leslie speaker will soon be on display in this most prestigious museum for all visitors to see. In fact, Dr. Jonathan Piper (museum curator) promises to create an interactive environment for those visitors who might want to play the instrument. 
  • JOF is proud to have made this donation and grateful to Dr. Piper for helping us 'raise the awareness of jazz organ worldwide'.
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Each year JOF pays tribute to a living jazz organist who has made significant contributions to this music with The JOF Award.  We then add their name to our Hall of Fame.  Those who have received our prestigious JOF Award are listed to the right. The Jazz Organ Fellowship Hall of Fame is dedicated to those jazz organists (many of whom have passed) who have contributed to the development of this music - to date, they are:
2022  Tony Monaco
          Richard Tee
          Bill Champlin
          Tom Coster
2021  Doug Carn
         
Billy Larkin
          Everette DeVan
2020  Clifford Coulter
       
  Reuben Wilson
          Lyman Woodard
2019  Eddie Baccus, Sr.
         
Earl Van Dyke
          Lady Margaret
          Jon Lord
2018  Joey DeFrancesco
          
Lou Bennett
          Jennell Hawkins
​          Paul Bryant
2017  Amina Claudine Myers
          Bernie Worrell
          Butch Cornell
          Lady Byron (Evelyn Childress)
          Jackie Ivory

2016  Ronnie Foster
          Loretta Whyte
          Beverly Pitts
          Keith Emerson

2015  Papa John DeFrancesco
          Eddy Louis
          Cherry Wainer
          Bobby Watley

2014  Sonny Phillips (Jalal Rushdan)
              Freddie Roach
          Ethel Smith
          Don Pullen

2013  Chester CT Thompson
          Milt Buckner

          Hank Marr
          Bu Pleasant
          Baby Face Willette
2012  Melvin Rhyne
          Joe Bucci

          Gloria Coleman
          Ed Kelly
          Merl Saunders
          Leon Spencer, Jr.
          Les Strand
2011  Dr. Lonnie Smith
          Jackie Davis
          Charles 'The Burner' Earland
          Richard 'Groove' Holmes
          Gene Ludwig
          'Big' John Patton
          Don Patterson
          Johnny 'Hammond' Smith

2010  Sarah McLawler & Trudy Pitts
          Bill 'Mr. Honky Tonk' Doggett
          Brother/Capt'n Jack McDuff
          Jimmy McGriff
          Shirley Scott
2009  Rhoda Scott
          'Wild' Bill Davis
          Jimmy Smith
          Thomas 'Fats' Waller
          Larry Young (Khalid Yasin)


REMEMBER to email us with your suggestions for next year's inductees into The Jazz Organ Fellowship Hall of Fame!
AND who you would like to see JOF pay tribute to...

      JazzOrganFellowship@gmail.com

          










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Rhoda Scott
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Sarah McLawler
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Trudy Pitts
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Dr. Lonnie Smith
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Melvin Rhyne
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Chester CT Thompson
PictureSonny Phillips (Jalal Rushdan)

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 Papa John DeFrancesco 
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Ronnie Foster
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Amina Claudine Myers
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Joey DeFrancesco
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Eddie Baccus, Jr.

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Clifford Coulter

        

Board of Directors

Executive Director - Pete Fallico 

Acting President - Pete Fallico
Board Members -  Dave Burns
​                             Greg Bridges
                             Carl Yamada
​                             Susan Emerick
                             Dr. Brad Stone - Vice Pres
                             Dr. Ray Jones - 2nd Vice Pres
                             Dr. Geoff Roach - Secretary
                             Carl Yamada - Treasurer

Past President - Linda Goshay Jones
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Doug Carn
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Tony Monaco

Advisory Board

Linda Goshay Jones
Bill Milkowski
Afrikahn Day'vs


Contact the Jazz Organ Fellowship
Mailing address:  P.O. Box 5881, San Jose, CA 95150
E-mail:  JazzOrganFellowship@gmail.com  

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