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Deep Blue Organ Trio

Celebrating the classic jazz combo configuration of the Hammond B3 organ, guitar and drums, and the Black- American experience through music, Chris Foreman, Greg Rockingham and Bobby Broom bring a modern sensibility to a musical timepiece.

The Deep Blue Organ Trio began its journey in 1992 playing engagements at Chicago's Cotton Club and Back Room. At the Cotton Club, a weekly gig which lasted for two years, the group began to develop its sound and musical connection. A connection which in large part began in the 1970s, when as teenagers Chris, Greg and Bobby were studying the organ jazz sounds which would soon become classic. "My dad was an organ player who recorded and traveled a bit" says drummer Rockingham, "and I played in his group from about the age of nine until I left for Interlochen Arts Academy for high school. So, my love of organ music and my knowledge of organ maintenance comes from him." Foreman began "playing at" the organ at age five. "As a kid, I was especially attracted to the organ players that I heard on the jazz radio station. I was fascinated by the variety of sounds that the instrument could produce." Guitarist Broom's first love in jazz was organist Charles Earland's 1971 release, "Black Talk". "During my teens as I continued listening and learning about jazz, I realized the common practice of the pairing of the organ and guitar through the great combinations of Wes Montgomery with Mel Rhyne, Jimmy Smith with Wes or Kenny Burrell and Pat Martino with Don Paterson", explains Broom.

In 1999, Rockingham, Broom and Foreman realized the need to spread the word about the dynamic chemistry that they had developed over the years. "That's when we decided to officially form the Deep Blue Organ Trio", says Rockingham. A few years later they landed their regular, still running, Tuesday night gig at Chicago's Green Mill Lounge, one of the country's oldest jazz clubs. Soon after, they were recording for Delmark Records prompting Jazz Times magazine to state, "with his superb showing on their debut, Foreman stands to advance to the front ranks of the elite B3 burners on today's scene."

Three records and many miles later, the Deep Blue Organ Trio, known at home as "Chicago's premiere organ group", has also "become among the world's most prominent purveyors of the organ trio tradition." The group has captured the attention of not only jazz fans, but those in the know across the musical spectrum, from jazz-rock ambassadors to the galaxy, Steely Dan, to the Grammy Award winning, alternative rock group, Wilco, to coveted music writer, David Ritz. DBOT's Third CD, Folk Music, became a radio hit, sitting at the number two spot on the national jazz chart for four consecutive weeks. The recording also won a Chicago Music Award for best jazz CD. "I think what people are feeling from us is our celebration of the music that we love, that inspired us to be who we are" says Broom. "We swing, groove hard and play the blues with grease and sophistication and without apologies. We don't see those approaches as limitations or hindrances either." Foreman adds, "To the contrary, it's cause for celebration and who better to host the party than Deep Blue"?

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Interview

Delving Into the Deep Blue

Read "Delving Into the Deep Blue" reviewed by Trish Richardson


"Blood may be thicker than water, but you can't live without water." class="f-right"> --Novelist Jane Porter

While the members of Deep Blue Organ Trio were not brought together by shared parentage, guitarist Bobby Broom, drummer Chris Rockingham and organist Chris Foreman share a closeness, mutual respect, and loyalty that many families would envy. Their bond and brotherhood extends beyond their music. These men love what they do and they love the men that they get to do it ...

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Album Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Wonderful!

Read "Wonderful!" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Wonderful! presents the Deep Blue Organ Trio's jazz take on nine Stevie Wonder hit songs that span Talking Book (Motown, 1972) to Songs in the Key of Life (Motown, '76), plus Wonder's 1969 hit single “My Cherie Amour" and “Tell Me Something Good," Chaka Khan's breakout from Rags to Rufus (MCA, '74) by Rufus (and which Wonder never recorded).Guitarist Bobby Broom, drummer Greg Rockingham, and Hammond B-3 organist Chris Foreman have played together for two decades and formed ...

329
Album Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Wonderful!

Read "Wonderful!" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Since the 1960s, Stevie Wonder's “My Cheri Amour" has remained one of the most memorable love songs in popular music. In collaboration with Motown songwriters Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy, the hit song was originally titled “Oh My Marcia"--at the time, a tender ode to Wonder's girlfriend in his adolescent years. The two broke up, the song underwent a name change, and the rest is history. The Deep Blue Organ Trio offers its own heartfelt rendition of ...

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Album Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Wonderful!

Read "Wonderful!" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


When it came time for the SFJAZZ Collective to choose a composer to honor in their eighth season, they surprised a lot of people when they went with the one and only Stevie Wonder. While some likely view this decision as a statement that, after covering Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver, the revered jazz composer well had run dry, those with a keen ear and a strong pulse know better. ...

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Album Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Folk Music

Read "Folk Music" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


With the first two bars of Folk Music, you can tell that things are going to get greasy. Few people want greasy hair or greasy food, but greasy music is a whole other story: it means soulful and swinging and played with the kind of laid-back confidence that signifies true mastery. “Blues is the preacher, jazz is the teacher, says the group's website. This approach is one reason this CD is a pleasure from beginning to end.Another is ...

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Album Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Folk Music

Read "Folk Music" reviewed by John Barron


Since 1992, Deep Blue Organ Trio has been working tirelessly to keep the flames of classic organ jazz burning. They've held down a weekly gig at Chicago's Green Mill and have released two highly acclaimed discs for Delmark Records: Deep Blue Bruise (2004) and Goin' to Town: Live at the Green Mill (2006). On Folk Music, the trio's first release for Origin Records, guitarist Bobby Broom, drummer Greg Rockingham and organist Chris Foreman dig deep into the well of organ ...

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Film Review

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Goin' To Town - Live At The Green Mill

Read "Deep Blue Organ Trio: Goin' To Town - Live At The Green Mill" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Deep Blue Organ Trio Goin' To Town: Live At The Green Mill Delmark 2006 On most Tuesday nights since 2003, The Deep Blue Organ Trio has dished out a thick and satisfying dose of jazz blues at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Chicago, Illinois. This DVD captures essence of the trio with music that sticks to your ribs and touches the heart, whiles capturing three highly skilled musicians who have ...

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Festival

Jazz This Week: Bobby Broom and Deep Blue Organ Trio, Bonerama, Kirk Whalum, Spoke, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, St. Louis Jazz Club Picnic and More

Jazz This Week: Bobby Broom and Deep Blue Organ Trio, Bonerama, Kirk Whalum, Spoke, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, St. Louis Jazz Club Picnic and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's shaping up to be a busy weekend for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with several touring musicians and bands in town, plus some noteworthy free events that should appeal to those looking for some budget-friendly entertainment. Let's go to the highlights... On Thursday night, Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom, best known as a longtime sideman to saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and his Deep Blue Organ Trio will be in town for a one-nighter at Robbie's House of Jazz. ...

Performance / Tour

Bobby Broom and Deep Blue Organ Trio Playing Thursday, September 13 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Bobby Broom and Deep Blue Organ Trio Playing Thursday, September 13 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Guitarist Bobby Broom and the Deep Blue Organ trio are coming to St. Louis to perform at 8:30 p.m. next Thursday, September 13 at Robbie's House of Jazz. Broom (pictured), a New York native who now lives in Chicago, may be best known to jazz fans as a member of saxophonist Sonny Rollins' band from 1982 to 1987 and again from 2005 to 2010. His performing and recording credits also include work with Art Blakey, Max Roach, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny ...

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Performance / Tour

Deep Blue Organ Trio at Jazz Alley Tues - Wed

Deep Blue Organ Trio at Jazz Alley Tues - Wed

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene

Bobby Broom and The Deep Blue Organ Trio February 7-8, 2012 JAZZ ALLEY 2033 6th Avenue Reservations: 206.441.9729 Show at 7:30pm The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley presents Bobby Broom and The Deep Blue Organ Trio, for two nights, touring in support of their latest release Wonderful!. Band members are Bobby Broom (guitar), Chris Foreman (Hammond B3 Organ) and Greg Rockingham (drums). Set times Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Doors ...

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Performance / Tour

February West Coast Tour for Bobby Broom's Deep Blue Organ Trio

February West Coast Tour for Bobby Broom's Deep Blue Organ Trio

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Chicago's acclaimed Deep Blue Organ Trio—guitarist Bobby Broom, B-3 organist Chris Foreman, and drummer Greg Rockingham—are heading west next month for the first West Coast tour in the group's 12-year history. The six-city tour begins at Yoshi's San Francisco 2/4 (10pm), then proceeds to Kuumbwa Jazz, Santa Cruz 2/6; Jazz Alley, Seattle 2/7-8; Jimmy Mak's, Portland 2/9; Dazzle, Denver 2/10; and the Rhythm Room, Phoenix 2/11. Fresh from a successful year-end week of performances at the Umbria Winter Jazz Festival ...

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Recording

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Wonderful!

Deep Blue Organ Trio: Wonderful!

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Back in the '70s, jazz organists such as Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland and Leon Spencer Jr. took on soul hits of the day, giving them a funky, dynamic groove. Now the '70s are again being taken seriously by contemporary jazz artists. On their third album, Wonderful!, the Deep Blue Organ Trio pays tribute to the music of Stevie Wonder, and the result is solid and refreshing. On each track, the group hooks into the song's sweet spot without ever losing ...

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Recording

Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!

Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Carrying the torch of the great blues, bop and ballad organ trios of the past, the DBOT plays straight-ahead swinging jazz, that is accessible to fans of Hammond Heroes like Jimmy Smith and Richard “Groove" Holmes. The trio is a deeply integrated unit consisting of Chris Foreman on Hammond B3 Organ, Bobby Broom on guitar, and Greg Rockingham drums. The band has an appealing sound, with Broom's guitar coming out of the Grant Green school (he's played with the likes ...

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Recording

Bobby Broom's Deep Blue Organ Trio Salutes the Music of Stevie Wonder with "Wonderful!," out on Origin 8/16

Bobby Broom's Deep Blue Organ Trio Salutes the Music of Stevie Wonder with "Wonderful!," out on Origin 8/16

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

With the release of their new CD Wonderful!, Chicago's acclaimed Deep Blue Organ Trio reveals just how well Stevie Wonder's songs adapt to a jazz-rooted setting. The disc, due out August 16 on Origin Records, features guitarist Bobby Broom, organist Chris Foreman, and drummer Greg Rockingham and their deeply informed, strongly felt versions of nine Wonder songs from the 1970s. “Stevie was a huge influence," states Broom, who produced and arranged Wonderful!, the trio's fourth CD and second for Origin. ...

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Recording

"Folk Music": New CD from Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio

"Folk Music": New CD from Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio Readies Folk Music for October 16 Release

Trio's 3rd CD - and 1st for Origin Label - Produced by Guitarist Bobby Broom

September 5, 2007 - The members of the Deep Blue Organ Trio - organist Chris Foreman, guitarist Bobby Broom, and drummer Greg Rockingham - cultivate a deep love and respect for the jazz-organ tradition and, since the 1990s, have been exploring their own singular take on it. Their two previous Delmark releases - ...

"The Deep Blue Organ Trio speaks as one." Down Beat

"With his superb showing on their debut, Foreman stands to advance to the front ranks of the elite B3 burners on today's scene." Jazz Times

"Among the world 's most prominent purveyors of the organ trio tradition." Lee Hildebrand

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Wonderful!

Origin Records
2012

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Wonderful!

Origin Records
2011

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Folk Music

Origin Records
2007

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Deep Blue Organ Trio:...

Delmark Records
2005

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Deep Blue Bruise

Delmark Records
2004

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A Deeper Blue

From: Folk Music
By Deep Blue Organ Trio

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