The Hammond B-3 organ has a distinctive sound and a place in history. Many of the greats including Isaac Hayes, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman (Yes), James Brown, Steve Winwood, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Smith, Gregg Allman, Tori Amos, Page McConnell (of Phish), Billy Preston, and even David Letterman's house musician, Paul Shaffer have utilized this instrument in their works over the years.
Bob & Barbara's on 1509 South Street has a Hammond B-3 right there in the bar - and don't you dare put your drinks on it!!! For years, Nate Wiley and the Crowd Pleasers played on it every week for their jam sessions and dance party. And it will be getting much use today - Saturday, July 14th - for the Hammond B3 Fest!
Starting around 2pm with the Bootsie Barnes Organ Trio and going into the wee hours of the night with DJs, there is an all day fest happening with food from Chef Lucky! Expect to hear soul, jazz, blues, gospel, rock'n'roll and anything that you can play on a Hammond B-3
The schedule is currently listed as:
2pm: The Bootsie Barnes Organ Trio
3pm: The Getback featuring Luke Carlos O'Reilly and Brian Williams
4pm: (West Chester, PA's own) The Sermon!
5pm: Dominique Johnson (from Chicago)
6pm: Azel Dixson featuring PJ Brown and Range Da Messenga
7pm: Dr. Ketchup
8pm: St. James & the Apostles (Jamie Mahon,
Followed by an all-night dance party with The Four Notes
Plus: DJ Steve Ferrell spinning 45rpm funk and R&B all day
Closing out the live portion of the evening is Philly trio, St. James & the Apostles.
Gospel organist Dominique Johnson from Chicago will be coming to play too:
West Chester, PA's The Sermon! will also be there laying it down.
Enjoy the sound of the B3 on a classic tune, Booker T. & The MG's "Time is Tight"
And another tune by the Spencer Davis Group from 1966, featuring a teenage Steve Winwood on the Hammond B3...