JazzOrganFellowship.org

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Summer 2010 The Jazz Organ Fellowship presents its Second Annual Gala on Thursday, August 12, 2010 in San Jose, California at the Theatre on San Pedro Square, located on downtown San Jose (29 N. San Pedro Street). Tickets go on sale via www.brownpapertickets.com/event/115025 beginning June 30th. Tickets are also available at the door (general admission $25 and San Jose Jazz Members $20) This year we will honor two living, Jazz Organ legends; Sarah McLawler will be honored in absentia and Trudy Pitts will be honored and will also perform. Our other two jazz organists are equally important: Tammy Hall from San Francisco and Atsuko Hashimoto from Osaka, Japan. Guitarist Mimi Fox will also be there! We will posthumously induct four more legends of Jazz Organ into our Jazz Organ Fellowship Hall of Fame: Bill Doggett, Jack McDuff, Shirley Scott and Jimmy McGriff.

Summer 2009 The First Annual Jazz Organ Fellowship Gala took place on Thursday night, August 20, 2009 in San Jose, California at the Theater on San Pedro Square. It was a huge success from an entertainment perspective. Our hopes of raising money for our ‘Music in the Schools' programming, however, fell short which makes us even more eager to produce another event next year that will be in line with our mission as a nonprofit organization. Rhoda Scott came from Paris, France to be there. She performed to an enthusiastic crowd and won the hearts of new Bay Area fans. Playing with Rhoda were saxophonist, Scott ‘E-Dog' Petersen and drummer, Akira Tana. The music was nothing less than sensational and will not soon be forgotten! Organist Wil Blades also performed along with his trio: guitarist, Jack Tone Reirdon and drummer, Jeff Mars. Our newly established Jazz Organ Fellowship Hall of Fame inducted Thomas ‘Fats' Waller, Wild Bill Davis, Jimmy Smith and Larry Young, Jr. Members are now invited to vote for next year's inductees. Our finale was an exciting pairing of Rhoda and Wil on stage together which sent everyone home in amazement.

Spring 2009 The Jazz Organ Fellowship traveled to Fresno, California on Friday, May 1, 2009 to help their local jazz society, ‘FresnoJazz’, with a music workshop. JOF provided the Hammond B3 and Leslie speaker and suggested that organist, Bobby Pierce, be presented as a guest lecturer and performer. Bobby spoke to the music classes at Edison High School in west Fresno and performed later that evening in their school auditorium with local sidemen. Click on images for larger versions

Spring 2007 On Friday, February 23, 2007 the Jazz Organ Fellowship collaborated with the Spark Education Project from television station KQED in San Francisco, CA. Along with Project Supervisor, Kristin Farr, JOF members visited with students from Mission High (3750 18th St. at Delores). The intent was to bring a bit of music education back into a high school setting where restrictions had been placed on such curricular activities. The history of the organ in American Music was discussed as well as the many possiblities open to music students today. Organist Wil Blades was among the JOF members there. He played original music on the Hammond B-3 organ through the Leslie 122 tone cabinet. His performance captivated the students as he demonstrated the various musical styles described by moderator, Pete Fallico. Students were encouraged to ask questions and even approach the stage where the organ and speaker were juxtaposed. Some students displayed their pride and curiosity as they experimented with the organ in front of a group of their peers. It was a class period well spent and well received. JOF thanks Kristin Farr from the Spark Project and the participating students and teachers of Mission High School in San Francisco.

Winter 2007 JOF helped to present the Joey DeFrancesco Trio featuring special guest, Bobby Hutcherson at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA (January 22, 2007)... Joey contines to provide valuable support as an Advisor to the Jazz Organ Fellowship...

Summer 2006 On September 10th, 2006, JOF presented Japanese Jazz Organ Sensation, Atsuko Hashimoto... along with her husband, Guitarist Yutaka Hashimoto and drummer Juasa Kanoh... at The JazzSchool in Berkeley, CA. It was a well-attended event that was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Spring 2006 JOF Member Matthew Kaminski brought Jazz Organ to school! Matthew played his own Hammond B3 with the new Hammond Suzuki/Leslie 21 system. He distributed handouts that gave the students a list of Jazz Organists; Jazz Organ web sites; and tunes they could memorize. He explained to them how he was playing the instrument and he showed them how his left hand was playing the bass lines while his left foot accented each note. He showed them a variety of ways in which to comp and use the foot pedals. He then had half of the class stand behind me while he showed them how the drawbars work. The inside of the Leslie was revealed... as well as the inner workings of the Hammond organ. More importantly, Matthew played for the students and gave them an array of the Jazz Organ sounds to savor... Matthew ended the class with a question and answer period. All in all, it was a great and rewarding experience for him... Any one can contact David Springfield who is the Jazz Studies director at: daspring AT valdosta DOT edu for more insight. The Jazz Organ Fellowship praises Jazz Organist Matthew Kaminski for his hard work and dedication in these efforts to raise the awareness levels of the Hammond organ and Leslie Tone cabinet in the world of Jazz Organ.

Fall 2005 The Jazz Organ Fellowship continued its Jazz Organ Studies, this time, in the highly acclaimed Skyline High School music program in Berkeley, CA. Organist Wil Blades brought drummer Tim Bulkley with him to demonstrate more advanced interactions between the jazz organist and the drummer. Students from two music classes were treated to informative and interactive-based instruction. JOF continued to reinforce the notion that the organ can play an important role in high school big band and jazz band productions.

Summer 2005 The Jazz Organ Fellowship continues to bring the sound of Jazz Organ into academia. On Wednesday, June 29, 2005, the world-renowned jazz organist, Tony Monaco, visited the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival's Summer Jazz Camp on behalf of the Jazz Organ Fellowship. Together with guitarist, Bruce Forman and drummer, Vince Lateano, Tony demonstrated Jazz Organ styles. He explained the drawbar settings and applications of the Leslie tone cabinet and he thrilled the many students, teachers and festival personnel with his prowess on the instrument and complete command of its dynamics. Over 150 music students listened intently as Tony talked about the many possibilities with Jazz Organ and the unique communication between organ, drums and guitar. It was a well-received workshop that truly helped the Jazz Organ Fellowship raise the levels of awareness for this beloved musical genre. JOF hopes that the it can contine to bring this valuable component of music education to other jazz festivals and educational settings.

Spring 2005 Jazz Organ was brought into the music rooms of two Oakland, California schools on Wednesday, May 18, 2005. JOF Exceutive Director, Pete Fallico, was never more proud as when organist Wil Blades and drummer Darrell Greene came to play for the music students at both Westlake Jr. High School and Roosevelt Jr. High School. Music teachers, Randy Porter and Linda Green were perfect hosts at their individual schools as JOF triumphantly launched its 'Jazz Organ Studies Program'. A brief history of Jazz Organ was presented with various recordings and live demonstrations of Jazz Organ styles. The Hammond organ was discussed in grade level language with emphasis on pedal technique and registration. Left-hand finger bass was explained and the inner workings of the Leslie tone cabinet were revealed. Valuable information was gathered in terms of student interests and invitations were extended to those who truly felt inspired. A few students actually approached the organ and received immediate encouragement. The Jazz Organ Fellowship is proud of its initial attempts to reach students within the schools. JOF now offers scholarships to those serious students who possess the aptitude, talent and necessary desire to take their music studies in this most creative direction. JOF extends its deepest thanks and appreciation to The Clorox Foundation for its support in this on-going program.