Jazz Organ Story

The “Jazz Organ Story” chronicles the events that formed a new style of American music. This era of jazz was a major influence on many other music idioms. The project reveals the importance of the pipe organ and the historical significance of the Hammond mechanical tonewheel sound. Mechanical tonewheels were regarded as a major step toward modern electronic music instruments. This original story gives tremendous insight on an American art form known throughout the world. The “Jazz Organ Story” project is a “remarkable work of art” about the evolution of the organ as a jazz instrument. The documentary highlights the styles of the most prominent influential figures such as Fats Waller, “Wild Bill” Davis and Jimmy Smith. The story mentions artists who also impacted the jazz organ idiom including Joey DeFrancesco, Larry Goldings, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Shirley Scott and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Interwoven with this story are demonstrations and archival footage of noted jazz performances.