How it all began...

Thought it�d be nice to know how we got started so here goes my story...

My dad, not a musician at all, thought it�d be a good idea to get me an organ. Mind you, a Bontempi is hardly what I would call an organ but that�s what he got me. Then off to the local music shop for lessons on a two-manual/bass pedal organ. I can�t say that I progressed a lot since I didn�t have such an organ at home so I was given a similar organ, a Hohner. Now I could finally practice and I would be found playing for hours each day. The organ became my life. Shortly after I enrolled at the Music Academy where I stayed for six years and majored in Classical Organ and Harmony. It was not because I had an interest in Classical Organ but I recommend it to everyone who�s serious about playing the organ and would like to develop a good technique. Judging the left-hand playing technique of many players I am happy that I endured those six hard years of endless exercises.

My hero was the late Klaus Wunderlich and later on Franz Lambert, Curt Prina, Andre Brasseur, Jimmy Smith and many others. As for gigging, I played in a couple of bands for several years, mostly weekend gigs (weddings, anniversaries and the likes) but gave up when I joined the Armed Forces and later on started traveling the world and I eventually wound up in the Far East.

My weak part is technology. I have never been into tweaking or Midi as my main interest was just playing but I will go into that eventually. Frankly speaking, it scares the heck out of me for I have no idea where to start but, who knows, I might eventually make it. Sadly, I no longer own an organ but a keyboard. Still, the draw to the organ remains as strong as ever so I will always see myself as an organ player first and play the organ again some day.

Taike


[This message has been edited by Taike (edited 03-08-2007).]

Taike -

Holding out on us, huh? Didn't know you had those credentials

Now 'cmon and be like the rest of us and play some gigs again to keep the love alive.

I'm having a blast playing out again. It'll keep me young and happy.

zuki

Hi Zuki,

Holding out on you guys? Nah. Just never thought it was important.

The last time I gigged is like 26 years ago. Even then, since I took evening classes at the Academy, six days a week, I didn't really have that many gigs apart from the ones I had at school with some of my fellow classmates. Cutting classes was very much frowned upon since teachers had a tight schedule and the workload was rather heavy. Even now I still don't feel comfortable playing a keyboard. Guess I'm too much an organ player at heart. Also keep in mind that I'm living in the Far East(Taiwan) and people prefer to hear Taiwanese, Mandarin or Canton Pop which isn't exactly what I'm into. I'm acutally quite happy just playing at home. I don't drive either and have no intention to.

Zuki, all the best with your gigs. I know that you're having a blast.

Taike

Taike, one thing you said really struck a chord (so to speak), and that is how we think of ourselves (pianist, organist (or "organ player" if you're not classically trained), synthesist, horn player, etc.). I haven't touched an organ in probably 15 years (not counting my VK7 which I traded in to Dan01) but I still think of myself as an organist first. Truth is, I've done many times more gigs and studio work (as hired gun/sideman) on piano and synths but as someone who grew up musically with the likes of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Don Patterson, and many others, all of whom I knew and "traded fours" with during the heyday of the organ trio format (mostly in the Black clubs of pre-casino Atlantic City). I was still in college and/or grad school (U. or P.) or working for IBM but on nights and weekends, off came the suit and on to that "other" world. What a great time and what a great musical education. Oh well, time to stop waxing nostalgic; my wife just popped out a golden brown Belgium waffle with link sausages and baked ham (it's ok, I'm wearing my Nitro patch). Oh yeah, started taking piano lessons at about 5 or 6 and continued through my teens. One highlight, used to play with the late, great, Grover Washington, Jr. (he was very, very good even way back then).

chas

Didnt we do this topic last year?

Hi Chas,

Ever think of playing the organ again? I don't see myself playing the keyboard forever. At least not only the keyboard as it somehow doesn't make me feel complete so the best option might be to get both. Maybe I should've added that I'm also a fan of theatre organ styling so that explains why I miss playing the organ so much.

You mean "the" Grover Washington, Jr., one of the founders of smooth jazz? I love his Black Frost and Mr. Magic. I happen to have his Mr. Magic and Winelight albums. Winelight is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums. You certainly have something to be proud of. WOW! Was that a one-time gig or...?

Taike

I met Grover at a club in Atlantic City when he was still in his late teens and virtually unknown except by Black musicians in the Philadelphia area, a very tight-knit group where sooner or later, everybody worked with everybody. Atlantic City (my birth city) was mostly summer gigs but Philly was blessed with some of the more memorable jazz clubs such as Peps and Showboat (I'm guessing Fran and DNJ probably remember them even if they never went in - this WAS Philly in the late 60's and 70's). This was the time when the Organ trio (sometimes with added horn or vocalist) was king. At that time there was only one "superstar" among the organ players and that was Jimmy Smith. He was the acknowledged "King" and everybody else was just the organ player down the street.

Grover was an intellectual and was very interested in education and young people. I'm sure most people know that he earned a doctorate degree in music (in the mold of Dr. Billy Taylor and other jazz greats). Even after his commercial success, you could drive by his house up in Mt. Airy and see him mowing his own lawn. That's humility, certainly more than I have. Sorry for wandering off; just gives you a warm feeling thinking about the "good ol' days". Probably just another expression of wanting to relive our youth. Ain't gonna happen.

BTW, one of the great local "fatback" organist during that time was "Papa John" Defrancesco, father of Joey D. He could groove with the best of them and a very nice guy to boot. Far as I know, he is still out there gigging (I saw him about 6 years ago doing a gig with one of his sons, a guitarist). Fran might know.

chas

chas
chas

http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/001867.html
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/004052.html
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/007235.html
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/012563.html

Thanks for a very interesting post, Chas. Learned something new today.

Taike

DNJ, I wasn't even around then and I am certain that since then we have many new members who don't know about these threads either. If we were to follow your line of thinking we might as well cease posting altogether as there are many threads that have been repeated several times over.

Taike