The Hammond electronic organ was developed with churches in mind, as a lower-cost alternative to pipe organs. But in Philadelphia, a keyboard player named Jimmy Smith was inspired by early jazz experiments on the instrument, and found a devastating way to adapt the new bebop style to the Hammond B-3.
It seeded a new tradition of organ players in Philadelphia — major figures like "Groove" Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Papa John and Joey DeFrancesco, and Trudy Pitts — and started a new sound in jazz at large.
NPR's Jazz Night In America visits Philadelphia for a history lesson and dance party: a tribute to organ masters Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott and Charles Earland with six local organists, multiple bands, and guest vocalists.
With WXPN, WRTI and the Philadelphia Jazz Project, Jazz Night visits World Cafe Live for a B-3 jam featuring many of the city's finest musicians. Listen to the concert on Sunday, April 19 at 8 pm on WRTI or online at WRTI.org.