Freddie Roach (organist)
Encyclopedia
See Freddie Roach for the boxer.
Freddie Roach (born May 11, 1931) is a soul jazz
Hammond B3 organist
born in the Bronx, New York. He was one of a handful of legendary jazz organists that made history in the 1960s, the golden era of the Hammond organ. Roach made his record debut in 1960 with saxophonist Ike Quebec
on the albums Heavy Soul
and It Might as Well Be Spring
and played with Willis Jackson. From 1962-64 he recorded 5 albums as a leader for the Blue Note Records
label and also recorded with Donald Byrd
on the album I'm Tryin' to Get Home
. His Blue Note album Mo' Greens Please
is perhaps one of the greatest 10 jazz organ sides ever recorded. Roach's original writing, steady basslines, and highly musical fleet-fingered right hand set him apart. From 1966-67 he recorded three more albums as a leader for Prestige Records
, which are in a more commercial vein than his Blue Note dates. After those recordings he moved to France, after which he was not heard from again.
Roach is a soulful organist, certainly influenced by Jimmy Smith (musician)
, but with a distinct sound and a quite original concept, which is perhaps best heard on "Good Move" for Blue Note. His Blue Note albums are worth looking for.
With Willis Jackson
With Donald Byrd
Freddie Roach (born May 11, 1931) is a soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
Hammond B3 organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
born in the Bronx, New York. He was one of a handful of legendary jazz organists that made history in the 1960s, the golden era of the Hammond organ. Roach made his record debut in 1960 with saxophonist Ike Quebec
Ike Quebec
Ike Quebec was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. His surname is pronounced KYOO-bek.Critic Alex Henderson wrote, "Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to down-home blues, sexy...
on the albums Heavy Soul
Heavy Soul (Ike Quebec album)
Heavy Soul is the debut album by American saxophonist Ike Quebec, recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Thick-toned tenor Ike Quebec is in excellent form.....
and It Might as Well Be Spring
It Might as Well Be Spring (album)
It Might as Well Be Spring is an album by American saxophonist Ike Quebec recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
and played with Willis Jackson. From 1962-64 he recorded 5 albums as a leader for the Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
label and also recorded with Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
on the album I'm Tryin' to Get Home
I'm Tryin' to Get Home
I'm Tryin' to Get Home is an album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd featuring performances by Byrd with a large brass section and vocalists recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label in 1965 as BLP 4188.-Reception:...
. His Blue Note album Mo' Greens Please
Mo' Greens Please
Mo' Greens Please is the second album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
is perhaps one of the greatest 10 jazz organ sides ever recorded. Roach's original writing, steady basslines, and highly musical fleet-fingered right hand set him apart. From 1966-67 he recorded three more albums as a leader for Prestige Records
Prestige Records
Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
, which are in a more commercial vein than his Blue Note dates. After those recordings he moved to France, after which he was not heard from again.
Roach is a soulful organist, certainly influenced by Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
, but with a distinct sound and a quite original concept, which is perhaps best heard on "Good Move" for Blue Note. His Blue Note albums are worth looking for.
Discography
- Down to EarthDown to Earth (Freddie Roach album)Down to Earth is the debut album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1962 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Freddie Roach differentiated himself from the legions of soul-jazz organists on...
(Blue Note, 1962) - Mo' Greens PleaseMo' Greens PleaseMo' Greens Please is the second album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1963) - Good Move!Good Move!Good Move! is the third album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Laid-back and loosely swinging, Good Move captures organist Freddie Roach near the...
(Blue Note, 1963) - Brown SugarBrown Sugar (Freddie Roach album)Brown Sugar is the fourth album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Brown Sugar marks a turning point for Freddie Roach: It's the moment he decided to...
(Blue Note, 1964) - All That's GoodAll That's GoodAll That's Good is the fifth album by American organist Freddie Roach recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 2 stars and stated "On his final album for Blue Note, Freddie Roach decided to step outside -- way...
(Blue Note, 1964) - Soul Book (Prestige, 1966)
- Mocha Motion! (Prestige, 1967)
- My People (Soul People) (Prestige, 1967)
As Sideman
With Ike QuebecIke Quebec
Ike Quebec was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. His surname is pronounced KYOO-bek.Critic Alex Henderson wrote, "Though he was never an innovator, Quebec had a big, breathy sound that was distinctive and easily recognizable, and he was quite consistent when it came to down-home blues, sexy...
- Heavy SoulHeavy Soul (Ike Quebec album)Heavy Soul is the debut album by American saxophonist Ike Quebec, recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Thick-toned tenor Ike Quebec is in excellent form.....
(Blue Note, 1961) - It Might as Well Be SpringIt Might as Well Be Spring (album)It Might as Well Be Spring is an album by American saxophonist Ike Quebec recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1961)
With Willis Jackson
Willis Jackson
Willis "Gator" Jackson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Born in Miami, Florida, Jackson joined Duke Ellington alumnus Cootie Williams's band in 1949 as a teenager, after being discovered by Eddie Vinson. During the 1950s he participated in R&B and jazz recordings, primarily as a session...
- Thunderbird (Prestige, 1962)
With Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
- I'm Tryin' to Get HomeI'm Tryin' to Get HomeI'm Tryin' to Get Home is an album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd featuring performances by Byrd with a large brass section and vocalists recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label in 1965 as BLP 4188.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1965)