Biography Jimmy McGriff

1 biography

1.1 years , influences
1.2 1960s: first combos
1.3 1970s–1980s
1.4 1990s–2000s

biography
early years , influences

born in germantown, pennsylvania, mcgriff started playing piano @ age of 5 , teens had learned play vibes, alto sax, drums , upright bass. first group bassist in piano trio. when joined united states army, mcgriff served mp during korean war , later became police officer in philadelphia 2 years.

music kept drawing mcgriff s attention away police force. childhood friend, organist jimmy smith, had begun earning substantial reputation in jazz blue note albums (the 2 played once in 1967) , mcgriff became entranced organ sound while richard groove holmes played @ sister s wedding. holmes went on become mcgriff s teacher , friend , recorded on 2 occasions in 1973 2 groove merchant records.

mcgriff bought first hammond b-3 organ in 1956, spent 6 months learning instrument, studied @ new york s juilliard school. studied privately milt buckner, jimmy smith, , sonny gatewood. influenced energy , dynamics of organist buckner , diplomatic aplomb of count basie, , local organists such howard demon whaley , austin mitchell.

1960s: first combos

mcgriff formed combo played around philadelphia , featured tenor saxophonist charles earland (who switched permanently organ, , became 1 of instrument s renowned performers). during time, mcgriff accompanied such artists don gardner, arthur prysock, candido , carmen mcrae, came through town local club dates.

in 1961, mcgriff s trio offered chance record instrumental version of ray charles hit ve got woman joe lederman s jell records, small independent label. when record received substantial local airplay, juggy murray s sue label picked , recorded full album of mcgriff s trio, released in 1962. album turned out huge hit in mcgriff s girl , establishing mcgriff s credentials fiery blues-based organist, well-versed in gospel, soul , fatback groove .

mcgriff recorded series of popular albums sue label between 1962 , 1965, ending still stands 1 of finest examples of blues-based jazz, blues mister jimmy. when producer sonny lester started solid state record label in 1966, recruited mcgriff star attraction. lester framed mcgriff in many different groups, performing wide variety of styles , giving organist unlimited opportunities record. mcgriff heard everywhere all-star tribute count basie; big band, series of organ , blues band records such thing come (1969), pop hits ( cherry , way tonight ) , funk classics (electric funk , singles such worm , step 1 ).

during time, mcgriff performed @ clubs , concert halls worldwide. settled in newark, new jersey, , opened own supper club, golden slipper - recorded black pearl , live album, chicken fried soul junior parker in 1971. beginning in 1969, performed regularly buddy rich s band, though 2 recorded once in 1974 on last blues album volume 1.

1970s–1980s

mcgriff retired music industry in 1972 start horse farm in connecticut. sonny lester s new record company, groove merchant, kept issuing mcgriff records @ rate of 3 or 4 year. 1973, mcgriff touring relentlessly , actively recording again. around time, disco gaining hold in jazz music , mcgriff s flexibility proved infallible. produced of best music during period: stump juice (1975), red beans (1976) , outside looking in (1978). these albums still stand out today excellent documents of mcgriff s organ playing.

by 1980, mcgriff broke away sonny lester , began working actively producer bob porter (and recording engineer rudy van gelder). mcgriff began long relationship fantasy records milestone label, collaborating rusty bryant, al grey, red holloway, david fathead newman, frank wess , eric alexander.

in 1986, mcgriff started popular partnership alto saxophone player hank crawford. partnership yielded 5 co-leader dates milestone records: soul survivors (1986), steppin (1987), on blue side (1989), road tested (1997), , crunch time (1999), 2 dates telarc records: right turn on blue (1994) , blues groove (1995). during brief period @ telarc mcgriff s name headlined popular club , cruise-ship attraction.

1990s–2000s

between 1994 , 1998, mcgriff experimented hammond xb-3, organ synthesizer increased organ s capabilities midi enhancements. gave mcgriff unnatural synthesized sound, explains retreat instrument on late recordings such 2000 s mcgriff s house party (featuring fellow organist lonnie smith). house party did include use of xb-3; however, did not use midi functions.

mcgriff 1 of first b3 players add midi upper keyboard personal b3 add , extend sound beyond drawbar sound of b3. incorporated synthesizers in live performances liked vibes, piano, string, brass , other sounds created synthesizer , classic b3 cannot provide. jimmy purchased xb-3 had more control on midi functions, , xb-3 weighs half of classic b3, made easier move.

jimmy, groove holmes, spent great deal of time experimenting , modifying b3 s , leslie speakers on years. of these modifications made way products manufactured both hammond , leslie, did not receive credit.

along soul-jazz sound, mcgriff experienced renewed popularity in mid-1990s, forming dream team group, featured david fathead newman (a longtime saxophonist ray charles) , drummer bernard purdie, , recording straight (1998), mcgriff s house party (2000), feelin (2001), , mcgriff avenue (2002) albums.

on march 29, 2008, mcgriff given last private concert mr. b3 bill dilks , grant macavoy in honor in voorhees, new jersey. dilks brought b3 , played mcgriff, wife margaret, guests, , folks @ genesis healthcare. dilks said, hammond reaches players far beyond conscious mind lives .

a resident of voorhees township, new jersey, mcgriff died there @ age 72 on may 24, 2008, due complications of multiple sclerosis.