Dan Fogel
on B-3 Classic
Rooted firmly in the organ tradition with the great Hammond B-3 jazz players like Jimmy Smith, Groove Holmes, Don Patterson, Jimmy McGriff, and Wild Bill Davis who emerged in the 1950s, Dan Fogel caught the B-3 bug early. Born June 21, 1948, in Atlantic City, NJ, Fogel came from a family deeply ingrained in the entertainment industry, being Jackie Gleason‘s second cousin and the nephew of Helen Forrest, a famed big-band singer who worked with Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Artie Shaw, among others. It was a natural step for Fogel to follow his path and first love music.
As a young child Fogel found an opportune job shining shoes in front of the legendary Club Harlem when he was only seven years old. By osmosis he couldn’t help but soak up the fabulous sounds — mostly jazz — that came from the club.
Luminaries of the jazz organ Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Larry Young, Jimmy Smith, Don Patterson, Butch Cornell and Doc Bagby were Fogel's direct inspiration. As a young teenager, Fogel was able to shadow his idols and watch the depth and soul of this music "in the flesh". At the live shows Fogel experienced the thumping bass, clomping chords, sounds that twirled from the Leslie into Fogel's body had him hooked hard. It was after hearing Groove Holmes’ B-3 version of “Misty,” Fogel was forever hooked on the intoxicating sound of Hammond. Fogel started piano lessons at the age of ten, but it was the organ that called to him as his true love. With his parents' help and a whole lot of shoeshine money, Fogel purchased his first B-3 organ when he was 11.
For Dan Fogel, Jazz Organ has been a way of life, not just a side hobby. He is thought to be one of the last real Jazz Organists around who has not strayed from the music he grew up with and learned to play so masterfully. His commitment to this heritage is heard in his latest release 15 West and clearly continues the history of this rare genre played out on Hammond B-3 organ. It's this recapitulation of heritage and commitment to authenticity that keeps the Jazz organ tradition alive and not forgotten in modern times. The real twist on this CD is that it is performed by true masters of the era who are living and breathing monuments still alive and able to share this magical art form in today's times.