The Jazz Voyager

In the air once more and three hours later flying from Phoenix to that renowned city with the racetrack, Indianapolis, where this jazz voyager will be in The Jazz Kitchen audience for a toe-tapping good time. Since 1994 this venue has been serving up world~class musicians and cuisine in a casual, sophisticated atmosphere.

The Jazz Voyager will witness the talents of Tony Monaco, who may be the best organ player to come along. This will be my first time hearing him in person, having only experienced him on compact disc. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in the classic style, he does not swing, smolder or smoke, he burns. He began his keyboard life at age eight, at twelve he heard Jimmy Smith and jazz became his destiny. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio where he was guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson.

For those of you who have never been to this establishment it is located at 5377 N. College Avenue, Indiana 46220. For those wanting more information go to  https://notoriousjazz.com/event/tony-monaco.

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TONY MONACO

Tony Monaco may be the best organ player you have yet to hear of flying stealth while playing arguably some of the hottest B-3 around. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in what is considered the more classic style, Monaco does not swing, smolder or smoke. “Tony Monaco burns is this most fitting!” CriticalJazz Review2012. Tony Monaco began his keyboard life at age eight. When he was twelve, his destiny as a jazz organist was sealed when he first heard Jimmy Smith. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his native Columbus, Ohio, guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson. Four years later, Jimmy Smith invited Tony to come play at his club in California, a peak lifetime experience for Tony.

In April 2000, Tony met fellow jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, who offered to produce a debut CD for him. This collaboration resulted in the critically acclaimed “Burnin Grooves”. The international success of the recording served as the catalyst for regional and national tours. Tony has since released 8 International releases and toured around the globe many times. Tony also toured and recorded with Pat Martino for over two years! As an ardent student of the organ, it’s no surprise that Tony is an accomplished teacher as well. In addition to private students, classes and clinics, Tony has produced a series of instructional DVDs titled “Playing Jazz Hammond” that have become indispensable for many serious students of the organ. Tony continues to expand his catalogue using most update technologies.

He developed a system of giving lessons one on one online and gives lessons to students around the globe!  His passion for teaching allowed him to secure  his “Artist in Residence”  status at Hope College in Holland Michigan where he teaches students both online as well as regular workshops groups and one-on-ones at the College. Tony is very proud and excited to be releasing his 11th international CD “The Definition of Insanity” on Chicken Coup Records January 2019!  Featuring Jam, Funk, Vocals, Italian Traditional and Latin with his current Trio ! Presently, Tony maintains a very busy schedule that includes festival appearances , clinics, and workshops !

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Reinhold Svensson was born December 20, 1919 in Husum, Germany. He recorded as a solo artist in 1941-1942, then joined the ensemble of violinist Hasse Kahn. In 1948, Putte Wickman took leadership of the group, and he worked with it until 1960 as a performer, arranger, and composer.

Reinhold appeared at the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949, worked with Arne Domnerus’s orchestra, and played with Charlie Norman in 1950-1951 as a duo under the names Ralph & Bert Berg and the Olson Brothers.

He also recorded with his own ensembles including Ragtime Reinhold. Domnerus, Jack Noren, Simon Brehm, and Thore Jederby were sidemen of his in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Pianist, Hammond organist and composer Reinhold Svensson transitioned on November 23, 1968 in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ethel Smith was born Ethel Goldsmith on November 22, 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began performing from a fairly young age. Traveling widely, after studying both music and several languages at Carnegie Institute of Technology, she became proficient in Latin music while staying in South America.

Smith performed in several Hollywood films such as George White’s Scandals and Melody Time. Her appearance in these films brought notoriety to her colorful, elaborate costumes, especially her hats.

Her rendition of Tico Tico became her best-known hit. She performed it in the MGM film Bathing Beauty in 1944, after which her recording reached the U.S. pop charts that November, peaking at #14 and selling nearly two million copies worldwide. Her other well known hits were Down Yonder and Monkey on a String.

Smith was a guitarist as well as an organist, and in her later years occasionally played the guitar live for audiences, but all her recordings were on the organ. She recorded dozens of albums, mostly for Decca Records.

Organist Ethel Smith, who became widely known as associated with Latin music, transitioned on May 10, 1996, at age 93 in Palm Beach, Florida.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Alfred “Fred” Böhler was born July 26, 1912 in Zurich, Switzerland.  He started on violin as a child but later switched to piano. He led his own ensemble starting in 1936, which featured Eddie Brunner and Hazy Osterwald, among others, as sidemen. This group made several tours of Switzerland during World War II and recorded copiously for Columbia Records.

In 1943, Böhler conducted an orchestral ensemble that played symphonic jazz. While he recorded most often on piano, he also used Hammond organ early in a jazz context. He would eventually play with Marcel Bianchi, Edith Piaf, Josephine Baker, and Pierre Cavall among others.

Pianist, Hammond organist and bandleader Fred Böhler transitioned on January 10, 1995 in  Zumikon, Switzerland.

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