Jimmy McGriff

James Harrell "Jimmy" McGriff ( born April 3, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, † May 24, 2008 ) was an American blues, soul and jazz organist ( Hammond organ ), but at times, rhythm and blues, Disco, funk and other styles pursued.

Biography

McGriff comes from a musical family, both parents played the piano ( and Benny Golson is a cousin of his ). He first learned from 5 years of piano and alto saxophone and bass ( and drums and vibraphone), which he also played as a teenager in a piano trio ( he has accompanied the singer Big Maybelle ). After that, he was for a time as a military policeman in Korea and started on his return, first in Philadelphia to the police. The successes of his childhood friend, the organist Jimmy Smith and the influence of Richard " Groove" Holmes ( he listened to his sister's wedding ), his teacher and later his friend brought him again to music closer.

He studied organ at Combe College of Music in Philadelphia, at New York's Juilliard School of Music, with Milt Buckner and the classical organist Sonny Gatewood. In 1960 he became a professional musician to perform in the Philadelphia area with its own combo and by traveling musicians like Carmen McRae accompanied. 1961 made ​​his first trio own shots ( hit with I've got a woman from Ray Charles), followed by an album in 1962 under the label " Sue " with his hit All about my girl. After the album Blues for Mr. Jimmy 1965 he moved to "Solid State Record", where he producer Sonny Lester brought out as one of the main musicians of the label ( The Worm 1968). McGriff moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he also opened his own club. From 1969 he played regularly with the big band of Buddy Rich, with whom he also has two mid -1970s toured (Album The last blues album vol. 1, 1974).

In 1972, he withdrew temporarily from the music business to operate horse breeding in Connecticut, but returned just a year later. He took for " Groove Merchant " (the label was also Lester ) on. In the 1980s, had its music in the sampler scene a comeback. In 1986 he played a lot with Hank Crawford ( Soul Survivors, 1987; Road tested, 1997) and is touring with its own quartet.

He calls himself "rather than blues musician " (instead of as a jazz musician). Along with the aforementioned labels, he also took from the 1980s for Milestone (producer Bob Porter) and since 1969 ( "Electric Funk" ) occasionally for Blue Note Records on. Overall, there are more than 50 recordings under his own name. Among other things he took with George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, David " Fathead " Newman, JJ Johnson, Richard " Groove" Holmes ( in Organ Duo) and with organist Dr. Lonnie Smith ( " McGriff 's House Party " 2000) on. He played among other things with Count Basie, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson and Dizzy Gillespie.