Pat Bianchi

Perhaps no other instrument in jazz boasts such a classic and beloved status as the Hammond B3 organ. On stage it sits like a majestic relic from jazz's distant past, a slightly odd Rube Goldberg machine whose spinning speakers produce a saturated, unmistakable sound imbuing every performance with it's own recognizable style. That style has set deep roots in American music including, of course, jazz and blues, but it has also provided undeniable contributions to pop, funk and soul. So it should really be no surprise that organist Pat Bianchi would choose a program of Stevie Wonder's music for his second Savant Records release.

The Hitmaker is back! With over 30 top ten smooth jazz radio hits to his credit, including an incredible 20 #1s, Chuck Loeb is truly an icon and pioneer of the smooth jazz genre. As lead guitarist and producer of the super-groups Fourplay and Jazz Funk Soul as well as leader of his own all-star touring ensemble, Chuck performs in front of hundreds of thousands of fans every year and his popularity continues to grow. "Unspoken" features guest appearances by smooth jazz superstars Brian Culberston, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp and Eric Marienthal, plus the great Will Lee (of David Letterman fame). In Addition, the album features vocals by Carmen Cuesta (Mr. Loeb), whose sensuous vocals have resulted in her own growing fan base.

As a first-call session ace, Loeb has been in the thick of matters, hearkening back to the 70s. As a solo artist, he’s merged contempo jazz with fusion and other jazz-inflected horizons. However, “Plain ‘n’ Simple” marks his advent into the jazz organ-combo schema, featuring celebrated drummer Harvey Mason and talented young organist Pat Bianchi.

Tim Warfield, a big-toned, swaggering titan of the tenor saxophone, has decided to make his contribution to the jazz organ group tradition with One For Shirley. The lady of the title is Shirley Scott, the late queen of jazz organ, with whom Warfield often played in the 1990s, and this set pays tribute to her style of bop-laced soul-jazz. Warfield’s tenor (and soprano) is joined by Terrell Stafford’s trumpet and Pat Bianchi’s organ in a simmering, groove-heavy update of a Scott original as well as swing era and ‘60s pop classics-plus some nifty Warfield originals to put the icing on the cake.

Tim Warfield, a big-toned, swaggering titan of the tenor saxophone, has decided to make his contribution to the jazz organ group tradition with One For Shirley. The lady of the title is Shirley Scott, the late queen of jazz organ, with whom Warfield often played in the 1990s, and this set pays tribute to her style of bop-laced soul-jazz. Warfield’s tenor (and soprano) is joined by Terrell Stafford’s trumpet and Pat Bianchi’s organ in a simmering, groove-heavy update of a Scott original as well as swing era and ‘60s pop classics-plus some nifty Warfield originals to put the icing on the cake.

Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is among contemporary jazz's busiest talents. On the day that It's Love was released, Marienthal also played a starring role on the Jeff Lorber Fusion entry Galaxy. The two albums reflect Marienthal's varied talents, as both a creative improviser and a lover of groove-oriented popular music. It's Love was produced by guitarist Chuck Loeb, who also appears throughout the set. Also in this studio band are Yellowjackets' keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Gary Novak, and bassist Tim Lefebvre.