torch singer with just an organ?

[bluzeyone]

Was wondering if you might know of a few links where its just a vocalist and an organ covering a lounge gig. I know piano and guitar dominate this scene but I'm sure some exist somewhere. Only asking because I'm planning on coloring our act in different ways next year and am looking for some ideas to work left hand bass because I miss the hell out of it! Thanks for your time.

[bluzeyone]

Well since there is no responses after 100+ views, I guess its as rare as I thought.

[David Emm]

The fact that its rare makes it an interesting variation to consider. I've enjoyed a couple of poetry slams where a poet and just one synth person played off of one another. It was intimate, but also funny in good places. Besides, a torch singer/organ combo is a stylistic natural. I might suggest adding a synth on top for a broader palette of pads, occasional effects like rain and woodwinds, but can a Hammond SK carry the whole load? Bet it can! It just depends on the material and the creative tone you want to establish.

 

 

 

[bluzeyone]

Thanks david! Something to consider. The rarity of it alone makes me all the bit want to bite. If it was done with a lot of forethought and tasteful, it could have a cool beatnik vibe to it.

[WesG]

This is one place where a real organ and Leslie would definitely be a bonus. Setting the mood is much harder in an intimate setting with a pizza box on an ironing board, even if it sounds awesome.

[mate stubb]

Wish I could help, but I'm drawing a blank.

[Brettymike]

Actually , I could imagine a carbon copy clone of Joe Cocker , giving it heaps along with a blistering Hammond organ and drums alone . But definitely not an "organ wine bar" type situation. Then again nothing is impossible.

 

Brett

[bluzeyone]

Yea man. Ya know it blows my mind kind of. An organ is alot like a arranger. In that,you can bass, comp, lead, even set perc to get a rhythmic groove swingin'. If ya run triple 8 with no leslie, it has a very jazz/Gibson warmth to it. Really suprised it isn't more popular in that scene. It really is a stand alone band on its own...

[Threadslayer]

I'm drawing a blank too. When I was a kid in the 1960s male organist/vocalists were popular in restaurant lounges - piano bar type venues, so there must have been females too - Ethel Smith maybe? I can't picture a single instance of a chanteuse fronting an organ though. Hmmm...

[Ken Beaumont]

Back when I was a kid almost every church had a lady playing the organ. Now days you have all kinds of musicians in churches. But back in the 60's and Early 70's it was seemed to me always women playing. Especially some of the small black churches around Detroit.

[kanker.]

I misread the first word in the thread title as "touch"....

[bluzeyone]

I misread the first word in the thread title as "touch"....

 

Now thats funny stuff! +1

[rockinredeye]

Here in Shreveport, Louisiana we had until recently a fellow named Bill Bush. He played around here for probably 40 years, maybe longer. He had a B-3 and two short Leslies which he would space very far apart (25 feet?) and which he managed to load into a small pickup truck by himself. He eventually owned his own club and was on the city council! He could sing and kick pedals with just a drummer and just kill. As you can imagine, his tunes were of that era, not ELP, but he definitely had total command of his instrument. Amazing and entertaining to hear.

[moj]

Shirley Scott in a rare vocal recording.

[video:youtube]

 

Kicca & Intrigo - they're more jazz/RnB.

[video:youtube]

 

[video:youtube]

[hurricane hugo]

That Shirley Scott track is gorgeous.

 

The guitarist in the other clip just irritated me for the first 90 seconds...then he seemed to find his groove. Rest of the group is tight, though.

 

 

[Kawai James]

That Shirley Scott track is gorgeous.

 

+100!

 

So sultry...thanks for posting moj!