Born: May 25, 1977 Primary Instrument: Organ, Hammond B3
Organist Jim Alfredson and guitarist Joe Gloss originally met at Michigan State University in 1997. Together they co-lead various groups before meeting drummer Randy Marsh in the fall of 2000. His experience and leadership served as the last piece of the puzzle and organissimo was born. In the several years since, organissimo has quickly become one of the premiere organ-based trios of the greater midwest.
organissimo's goal is to extend the tradition of the classic organ-led combos of the 1960s into the modern age. Buildling upon the great foundation laid by the past masters, but incorporating modern elements, organissimo's focus is on original material and cultivating a unique group sound. All three members contribute equally and bring their diverse musical tastes to the band, producing a multi-layered whole.
organissimo's music has received numerous local and national awards including a 2003 WYCE Jammy Award for Best Jazz Album for their CD “Waiting For The Boogaloo Sisters...” (PKO Records 020). The CD was also named one of the best releases of 2003 by Jim Wilke's Jazz After Hours program, syndicated on over 60 NPR stations nationwide.
organissimo's recently released second CD, “This Is The Place” on the newly formed Big “O” Records, hit #19 on the JazzWeek charts and #4 on the CMJ charts. It also won two WYCE Jammie Awards for Best Jazz Album and Album of the Year. Like it's predecessor, it was named one of the best releases of 2005 by Jim Wilke 's Jazz After Hours program in Seattle, WHRV in Virginia Beach, WBEZ in Chicago, WVIA-FM in Pittston PA, WBLV Blue Lake Public Radio, WLNZ in Lansing, WEMU in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, KXJS in Sacramento, and WYCE in Grand Rapids, Jazz 90.1 in Rochester NY, Real Detroit Weekly Magazine, the Detroit MetroTimes and the Lansing City Pulse.
organissimo has performed at venues and festivals across the country including the famous Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, The Green Mill in Chicago, the 2003 Clearwater Jazz Holiday, the 2005 Idlewild Music Festival, the 2006 Chicago Jazz Festival, the 2006 Detroit International Jazz Festival, and the 2006 Syracuse Jazz Festival among others. In February 2007 they will embark on their first international trip, performing at the Tel-aviv Jazz Festival in Israel.
Awards:
- 2003 WYCE Jammie Award for Best Jazz Album "Waiting For The Boogaloo Sisters..." - 2003 Best Releases of 2003 by Jim Wilke's Jazz After Hours Program (syndicated on 60 stations nationwide). - 2005 WYCE Jammie Awards for Best Jazz Album and Album of the Year "This Is The Place" - 2005 Best Releases of 2005 by Jim Wilke 's Jazz After Hours program in Seattle (syndicated on over 60 NPR stations nationwide), WHRV in Virginia Beach, WBEZ in Chicago, WVIA-FM in Pittston PA, WBLV Blue Lake Public Radio, WLNZ in Lansing, WEMU in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, KXJS in Sacramento, WYCE in Grand Rapids, Jazz 90.1 in Rochester NY, Real Detroit Weekly Magazine, the Detroit Metro Times, and the Lansing City Pulse - 2005 Detroit Music Award nominee for Best Jazz Album“organissimo invigorate[s] the organ trio tradition with fresh takes on the genre... eclectic... classic... inventive... “ ~ Bill Milkowski on JazzTimes.com, Sept. 2006
“Combine Alfredson's knack for choosing just the right color and tone in any given composition with his colleagues' ability to match his gestures, and you have one of the most promising organ trios in jazz.” ~ Chicago Tribune
This Is The Place
Big O Records 2404
2005
Tracks: Wealthy St; Greaze Monkey; Brother Ray; Smokin' Section; Stomp Yo' Feets; Intro; Tenderly; Play Nice; Peaches En Regalia; Pumpkin Pie
Personnel: Jim Alfredson, Hammond B3; Joe Gloss, guitar; Randy Marsh - drums; Johnny Gist, tenor saxophone; Bill Vits, percussion
Waiting For The Boogaloo Sisters...
Big O Records 2403
2003
Tracks: Meet Me @11; Jimmy Smith Goes To Washington; Clap Yo' Hands; Life Wish; Blake's Shake; You Don't Want To Do That; Young's Dream; Pre Dawn Rain; Decoder
Personnel: Jim Alfredson, Hammond B3; Joe Gloss, guitar; Randy Marsh, drums; Ron Blake; tenor saxophone, flute
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