One of the most popular jazz and blues organists, Jimmy McGriff was born in Philadelphia, a city which was known for its many great Hammond B-3 players: Jimmy Smith, Trudy Pitts and Charles Earland, to name just a few.
McGriff was solidly based in the blues and gospel, and often described himself as a blues player as opposed to a jazz player. He played jazz as dance music.
"Jimmy Smith is the jazz king on the organ, but when it comes to blues, I can do things where he can't touch me." --Jimmy McGriff
Some of the most soulful jazz you'll ever hear can be found on McGriff's recordings with saxophonist Hank Crawford.
http://youtu.be/aTj1_70BH0A
