Wed Nov 6
Recording Release "Three" Celebration with Pat Bianchi • Organ, Troy Roberts • Sax and Byron Landham • Drums
As a modern ambassador of the Hammond B3, Pat Bianchi is no stranger to the classic organ trio setting. The Grammy-nominated organist (also recently nominated by The Jazz Journalists Association as Keyboardist of the Year) was a longtime member of the trio led by late guitar icon Pat Martino as well as NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson's Quartet. He also shares his deep knowledge of history of the Hammond Organ as host of the weekly Sirius XM show Organized.
Bianchi has never been afraid to take the B3 into new directions. His playing draws from a wide range of musical influences including organists Joey DeFrancesco and Dr. Lonnie Smith, (both who actively mentored Bianchi) but also encompasses other instrumentalists and approaches that stretch beyond the Hammond B-3 world. The result is a unique and creative voice of the Hammond organ that acknowledges the tradition while looking forward at the same moment.
As a leader, Bianchi has toured extensively through the United States and Europe, appeared at numerous jazz festivals and in recent years his trio has opened for Steely Dan for 3 separate east coast tours. In addition to being a prolific bandleader, the award winning organist has also enjoyed tenured membership in the bands of some of the most highly revered artists in jazz including; Pat Martino, Lou Donaldson, Ralph Peterson Jr. and Chuck Loeb. Additional performance credits include: Red Holloway, George Coleman, Joe Locke, Terrace Martin, Mark Whitfield, Joey DeFrancesco, Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield and Alvin Queen among many others.
While maintaining an active performance schedule, Bianchi also teaches jazz organ at Berklee College of Music. He has been an integral co-author of curriculum for one of the first Hammond organ programs and official majors offered by an institution of higher education.