Charles Earland – Jazz Organist
Today I was listening to Charles Earland’s album Intensity:The Complete Recordings with Lee Morgan. It’s a really great album and I should write about it soon. But until then here’s a post I wrote previously about Charles…. Charles Earland– Hammond B3 -(May 24, 1941 – December 11, 1999) I browse the daily listing of jazz birthdays each day not only for whose birthday it is that particular day, but also to discover new music. Many times I select who I read about by the instrument they play. Other times I select someone with a foreign sounding name, figuring that will lead me to explorations of jazz music beyond America’s shores. Tunisian born Wajdi Cherif is a perfect example of this type of choice. I read about, and spent time listening to Charles Earland’s music this morning, based on the instrument he plays – Hammond B3 organ!! About Charles Earland Charles Earland was born in Philadelphia on May 24, 1941. He began his jazz journey playing saxophone and played baritone sax, while in high school in a band that featured fellow Philadelphians Pat Martino on guitar, Lew Tabackinon tenor, and future teen idol, Frankie Avalon on trumpet! After playing in the Temple University band, Earland toured with Jimmy McGriff for three years. It was after he was let go by McGriff that Earland switched to playing the organ and formed an organ trio that featured Pat Martino on guitar and drummer Bobby Durham. He released his first albums for Choice in 1966. In 1968 and 69…
