Composer, recording artist, vocalist, song writer, musician
Hammond & Leslie Artist
BRAND NEW
I had the pleasure to demo the new XK5 Hammond organ for Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend Magazine for the up coming NAMM show in Anaheim California.
This is the birth of the new B3 organ or as it is called ‘The new Original” and soon they will be on all stages.
Everyone is used to Leslie’s turning and spinning, but the new LESLIE 2215 AMP is turning heads with its great sound, and many features. The folks from MUSICIANS FRIEND have recently shouted this loud and clear with a great review in their latest mailer. What is significant here, is the reviewer is a TRUMPET PLAYER, therefore giving a true view as to how a band member hears and reacts to an amp. The Keyboard player for the gig the review was based on? None other than the intrepid GARY SWAN, long-time Hammond Artist and first call cat for a bunch of R&B greats. Gary channeled his trusty Hammond Sk-1 into the 2215 and let ALL the voices loose, and the review reports…well, we’ll let you read the good news for yourself. Hit the link below to read the Musician’s Friend Review.
No matter what kind of music I am playing,
I play Hammond Keyboards: B3 SK2 SK1-73 XK5 XK4 M Solo
For the second year in a row, HAMMOND USA hosted the SOUND SOUL SUMMIT concert during the 2014 Winter NAMM. The Anaheim Hilton was alive with the All-Star event featuring some of the top keyboard players and session players in the World. With a jam-packed room, three Hammonds across the front of the stage, a hot rhythm section behind, and Keyboard Magazine Editor STEPHEN FORTNER as Emcee. the show jumped off with a reunion of Hall-of Famer BILLY PRESTON’s band, led by GARY SWAN (Etta James) and JT THOMAS (Bruce Hornsby) on keys. the RON OSWINSKI TRIO swung hard, and Germany’s MICHAEL FALKENSTEIN took the crowd on a funk-a-fied journey. JON HAMMOND led his Quintet, fueled by the great BERNARD PURDIE on Drums. The crowd went wild when special unannounced guest Hall-of-Famer KEITH EMERSON was introduced. In honor of Hammond’s 80th Anniversary, a tribute to Players/Singers from the Windy City took the stage: CJ VANSTON (Hollywood Score Great), ALAN HEWITT (Moody Blues) and SCOTT MAY (Ides Of March) were joined by singers DENNIS TUFANO (Buckinghams) and TOM “TOAD” DOODY (Cryan’ Shames). A tribute to Hall-of-Famer JIMMY SMITH was mounted by jazzers JIM ALFREDSON, Rev. JIMMIE SMITH, and BRIAN CHARETTE. The show closed with a bang: PETER KEYS (Lynyrd Skynyrd), TERRY LAWLESS (U2/Pink), and DAVID ROSENTHAL (Billy Joel) were joined by Vocalist ALEX NESTER, doing an all-keyboard “FREE BIRD”. A fantastic show with the right ticket price:free!!.
Musician’s Friend Magazine interviews me about the new Hammond Keyboard amp.
KORG KEYBOARDS
I just added the new KORG Nautilus to my KORG collection and stage gear