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Chris Hazelton

ome things in life are just meant to be.  The first time Chris Hazelton experienced a real Hammond B-3 organ, he knew instantly that it was the instrument he was destined to play.  At the request of his college professor, the then-underage aspiring musician snuck into a dark Kansas City jazz club called Bobby’s Hangout to hear the man behind the console, jazz organ master Everette DeVan.  After several weeks of coaxing, Mr. DeVan agreed to take Chris on a student, showing him the ins and outs of the complex machine. With a background in string bass and piano, Chris’ transfer to organ was a natural one.

From 2007 to 2009, Chris called the Big Apple home.  New York City provided an education that can only be found by living there.  The rhythm of the city and the constant presence of jazz royalty helped sharpen his playing into a potent combination of groove and artistry.  During his time there, Chris regularly performed at legendary Harlem jazz clubs such as Minton’s Playhouse, the Lenox Lounge, and Showman’s Jazz Lounge.  In 2009, Chris had the honor of studying with the world’s foremost authority in the jazz organ world, Dr. Lonnie Smith!

Upon returning to his native Kansas City, Chris has made a name for himself as one of the premier jazz organists in the midwest and recently made an appearance with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

His flagship ensemble, Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, was assembled in 2013 and held a impressive seven-year Friday night residency at Kansas City’s Green Lady Lounge.  This seven piece unit focuses on funky, rhythmic soul-jazz that harkens back to the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, a time when Lou Donaldson, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Grant Green, Lonnie Smith, and a host of others packed dance floors and venues along the “Chitlin Circuit”.  The Boogaloo 7 has released two 45rpm 7-inch vinyl singles and two full-length LPs on Sunflower Soul Records, a label established by Hazelton in 2014 that produces soulful recordings with unashamedly old-school, analog vibe.

For nearly 10 years, Chris served as the organist at “The Historic” Centennial United Methodist Church in the 18th & Vine Jazz District of Kansas City, MO – a church that was once home to Count Basie and Charlie Parker.  He plays bass guitar with the popular soul ensemble The Freedom Affair.  He is happily married to the love of his life, Erica, and together have a daughter named Evelyn and a son named Jaxon.

Gear

1969 Hammond B-3 Organ and Leslie 122 Nord C-1 Combo Organ Leslie 3300


Tags

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Radio & Podcasts

Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Sinatra & Chris Hazelton

Read "Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Sinatra & Chris Hazelton" reviewed by Joe Dimino


From the king of the Kansas City Hammond-B3 jazz organ, we begin the 818th Episode of Neon Jazz with Chris Hazelton and music from his 2023 album After Dark. From there, we lead into his mentor in the legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith with a cut off his 1969 LP Turning Point. There's also new music from Clark Sommers, Brandon Sanders, Quinn Sternberg and the great Mitch Towne, plus “I've Got You Under My Skin" with Bono and Frank Sinatra. The ...

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Album Review

Chris Hazelton: After Dark

Read "After Dark" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Imagine walking down a street After Dark, with nothing important happening, when the sound of music nearby can be heard. Pausing for a moment to listen more closely, the thought occurs that “this is really rather good; I should hang around for a while." That is exactly the vibe that Kansas City-based organist Chris Hazelton and his ensemble wish to convey on this bright and smoothly swinging album. While the untimely passing of maestro Joey DeFrancesco in ...

1
Album Review

Chris Hazelton: After Dark

Read "After Dark" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


After Dark from Chris Hazelton is a mesmerizing journey into the world of nighttime musings and atmospheric melodies. Jazz musicians are creatures of the wee small hours of the morning and dimly lit streets. Accordingly, Hazelton crafts a nostalgic and contemporary experience that sets the ambience for introspection and contemplation. Joining Hazelton's B-3 organ on this journey through the realm of the night is a cohort of grit-and-shout Kansas City musicians, including baritone saxophonist Brett Jackson, ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Thomas, Whitaker, Hayward and Warfield; Chris Hazelton and Cory Weeds; Oikos Ensemble; and More

Jazz This Week: Thomas, Whitaker, Hayward and Warfield; Chris Hazelton and Cory Weeds; Oikos Ensemble; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's schedule of live jazz and creative music includes a diverse group of musician/educators brought together here by a returning St. Louisan; visiting players from Kansas City, Vancouver and Mississippi; the debuts of two new ensembles featuring some top local musicians; and more. Let's go to the highlights.... Tonight, the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra performs at First Unity Church of St. Louis, 4753 Butler Hill Rd in south county. On Thursday night, the Young Friends of Jazz St. Louis ...

Performance / Tour

Coming Attractions Include Larry Brown Jr's Marvin Gaye Tribute, Chris Hazelton and Cory Weeds, Marco Benevento

Coming Attractions Include Larry Brown Jr's Marvin Gaye Tribute, Chris Hazelton and Cory Weeds, Marco Benevento

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Recent days have brought details on three more upcoming shows of interest to St. Louis jazz fans: Guitarist Larry Brown Jr., a native of Venice, IL and graduate of SIUE who's now working in Chicago, will return home to perform “I Remember Marvin: A Jazz Tribute to Marvin Gaye" at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 5 at the Sheldon Concert Hall.  The performance is  part of The Sheldon's “Notes From Home" series. Brown will be joined for the concert by fellow ...

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Event

Chris Hazelton Trio New Release On Artists Recording Collective Label

Chris Hazelton Trio New Release On Artists Recording Collective Label

Source: Artists Recording Collective, LLC

The first time Chris ever saw a real Hammond B-3 organ was in a dark club in Kansas City, MO called Bobby’s Hangout. After taking an interest in the sound of the instrument on some recordings, Jim Mair (his college professor) recommended he go to see the man at the helm, renowned organist Everette DeVan. Chris knew instantly that night that the B-3 was the instrument he was destined to tackle. After several weeks of going to Bobby’s and some ...

"The Chris Hazelton Trio simply takes something that is very good, perhaps refines it just a touch but ultimately makes it even better with a natural progression of talent, ability and a swing that comes deep from within." -Review on criticaljazz.com "Hazelton's impeccable work on his Hammond B-3 is thick and fearsome." -Review on Plasticsax.blogspot.com

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

After Dark

Cellar Records
2023

buy

Peregrination

ARC - Artists Recording Collective
2012

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