John Patton (July 12, 1935 – March 19, 2002) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, blues and R&B pianist and organist often known by his nickname, Big John Patton. Patton was one of the most in-demand organists during the golden era of the

Hammond B-3 The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs generated ...

organs between 1963 and 1970. He recorded extensively for

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...

and performed or collaborated with

Lloyd Price Lloyd Price (March 9, 1933May 3, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter, record executive and bandleader, known as "Mr. Personality", after his 1959 million-selling hit, "Personality". His first recording, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", was a hit for S ...

Grant Green Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Recording prolifically for Blue Note Records as both leader and sideman, Green performed in the hard bop, soul jazz, bebop, and Latin-tinged idioms ...

, and

Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson (born November 1, 1926) is an American retired jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop ...

. Patton had a lower profile in the 1970s but enjoyed a comeback in the 1980s and 1990s, often in collaboration with saxophonist John Zorn. His later music incorporated modal and

free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians duri ...

Biography

John Patton, born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, was an American

composer and performer. He developed the nickname "Big John", not because of his size, but because of a song. "Remember the tune, 'Big Bad John'? ... yeah, well, that's what they started calling me and at first I didn't understand it but I love it now. It's just a name; if it's going to help you, then boogie on up in there!" Patton's mother was a church pianist who taught him how to play fundamentals. When he was about 13 years old, in 1948, he began to teach himself. He was inspired by the music he heard in his hometown, but he wanted to play beyond the Kansas City jazz scene. After high school, he headed East and found professional work. In 1954 in Washington, D.C., he found out that R&B star Lloyd Price was playing at the

Howard Theater The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African- ...

, and that Price had just fired his pianist and needed a new player. Patton played a few bars from the introduction to "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy". He was given the job. It was a relationship that would last until 1959. "I learned everything with Lloyd," Patton said. "I was his 'straw boss' and the leader and he dumped all this on me and that was an experience that I got a chance to deal with." He recruited top players for Lloyd, including drummer Ben Dixon. Dixon, another self-taught player, encouraged John to check out the Hammond B-3 organ when they played in clubs that had one. "Some of the clubs that we would play in would have an organ off to the side and every time I would have a chance to get with that organ, man, it was just fascinating to me...especially the bass line." A man called "Butts" first showed Patton how to set up the organ and find the right registrations. When he moved to New York in late 1959, and began playing gigs around town, Herman Green, a friend who played with Lionel Hampton's band, took him to a Hammond in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and helped him learn how to play it. Patton was fascinated with the differences in the nuance of the sound that an electric organ could produce. "Man, listen, it's so sensitive and it will reveal its secrets if you try to get up in there and learn it...and learn the sound and contact. You can't play it like a piano 'cause that's another thing all together - The notes are the same but, see, that electricity puts another 'jammie' on you, you know what I mean? You must deal with touch and so many other things...and I was very frustrated at first." Patton set up his own Hammond

organ trio An organ trio is a form of jazz ensemble consisting of three musicians; a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, ...

in 1959.

artist

Ike Quebec Ike Abrams Quebec (August 17, 1918 – January 16, 1963) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career in the big band era of the 1940s, then fell from prominence for a time until launching a comeback in the years before his dea ...

became his mentor, introducing him into Blue Note and to one of the most important relationships in his career, with guitarist

. "Grant is my love...I never heard nobody play the guitar like that brother...Grant started playing when he was about twelve and he was out there a long time...and I was so thrilled that I got a chance to play with him, man, but he was greedy, (like a)

Gemini Gemini may refer to: Space * Gemini (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac ** Gemini in Chinese astronomy * Project Gemini, the second U.S. crewed spaceflight program * Gemini Observatory, consisting of telescopes in the Norther ...

, (but) I was a mule...I didn't care; I sho' learned!" He worked as a sideman for

for three and a half years, until 1964. "He says 'Play the BLUES'," Patton recalled. "You don't mess with Lou 'cause Lou knows how to play the Be Bop and Blues and Rhythm and Blues ... I am very fortunate that I got a chance to spend that much time with him and I can't thank him enough." Of his influences, Patton stated "I love trumpet, I love trombone, I love reeds...I love it all...Musicians like Fred Jackson, Richard Williams, Grant Green, Ben Dixon and Johnny Griffin...I can go on and on ...This is where I got my concept." The acid jazz movement in the 1980s caused a resurgence in interest in Patton's music in the UK. Blue Note released many sessions that had not previously been released, including '' Blue John'' with Grant Green and

George Braith George Braith (born George Timothy Braithwaite on June 26, 1939) is a soul-jazz saxophonist from New York. Career Braith is known for playing multiple horns at once, a technique pioneered by Roland Kirk. Braith is credited with the invention of ...

(listed as Braithwaite on the LP). Patton made several trips to England where he was embraced by the acid jazz community. Patton died from complications arising from diabetes, in Montclair, New Jersey, on March 19, 2002.

Discography

As leader

* ''

Along Came John ''Along Came John'' is the debut album by American organist John Patton (musician), John Patton, recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1963) * '' Blue John'' (Blue Note, 1963) * '' The Way I Feel'' (Blue Note, 1964) * '' Oh Baby!'' (Blue Note, 1965) * '' Let 'Em Roll'' (Blue Note, 1965) * '' Got a Good Thing Goin''' (Blue Note, 1966) * '' That Certain Feeling'' (Blue Note, 1968) * '' Boogaloo'' (Blue Note, 1968

995 Year 995 ( CMXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 17 May - Fujiwara no Michitaka (imperial regent) dies. * 3 June: Fujiwara no Michikane gain ...

* ''

Understanding Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to use concepts to model that object. Understanding is a relation between the knower and an object ...

'' (Blue Note, 1968) * '' Accent on the Blues'' (Blue Note, 1969) * '' Memphis to New York Spirit'' (Blue Note, 1969-70

996 Year 996 ( CMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * February - Chotoku Incident: Fujiwara no Korechika and Takaie shoot an arrow at Retired Em ...

* ''

Soul Connection ''Soul Connection'' is an album by American organist John Patton recorded in 1983 and released on the Nilva label. Reception The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3½ stars and stated "It is the lost gem in his catalog and showca ...

'' (Nilva, 1983; Just A Memory/Justin Time, 2008) * '' Blue Planet Man'' (Paddle Wheel, 1993; Evidence, 1997) * '' Minor Swing'' (DIW, 1994) * '' This One's for Ja'' (DIW, 1996

998 Year 998 ( CMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – Otto III retakes Rome and restores power in the papal city. Crescenti ...

* '' Eagle Eye Blues'' ive(Excellence, 2001

006 Alec Trevelyan (006) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1995 James Bond film '' GoldenEye'', the first film to feature actor Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Trevelyan is portrayed by actor Sean Bean. The likeness of Bean as Ale ...

As sideman

With

* '' The Natural Soul'' (Blue Note, 1962) * '' Good Gracious!'' (Blue Note, 1963) * ''

Signifyin' Signifyin' (sometimes written "signifyin(g)") (vernacular), is a wordplay. It is a practice in African-American culture involving a verbal strategy of indirection that exploits the gap between the denotative and figurative meanings of words. A si ...

'' (Argo, 1963) * '' Possum Head'' (Argo, 1964) * ''Ha' Mercy'' (Cadet, 1971) * '' A Man with a Horn'' (Blue Note, 1999) With

* '' Am I Blue'' (Blue Note, 1964) * '' Iron City'' (Cobblestone, 1972) * '' Blues for Lou'' (Blue Note, 1999) With others *

, ''Laughing Soul'' (Prestige, 1966) *

Ed Cherry Edward E. Cherry Jr. (October 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and studio musician. Cherry is perhaps best known for his long association with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed from 1978 until shortly before Gillespie's d ...

, ''Second Look'' (Groovin' High, 1994) *

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

Matthew Gee Matthew Gee (November 25, 1925 in Houston, Texas – July 18, 1979 in New York City) was an American bebop trombonist and part-time actor. Gee played trumpet and baritone as a child, and took up the trombone at age 11. After studying at Alabama ...

, ''

Soul Groove ''Soul Groove'' is an album by saxophonist Johnny Griffin and trombonist Matthew Gee recorded in 1963 and released on the Atlantic label.Red Holloway James Wesley "Red" Holloway (May 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Born in Helena, Arkansas,Daniel E. Slotnik"Red Holloway, Swinger of the Sax, Dies at 84" ''The New York Times'', February 28, 2012 ...

, '' The Burner'' (Prestige, 1964) *

Clifford Jordan Clifford Laconia Jordan (September 2, 1931 – March 27, 1993) was an American jazz tenor saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after ...

, ''

Soul Fountain ''Soul Fountain'' is an album featuring jazz saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1966 and but not released on the Atlantic Records subsidiary Vortex label until 1970.Johnny Lytle Johnny Dillard Lytle (October 13, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio – December 15, 1995 in Springfield) was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist. Life and career Lytle grew up in Springfield, Ohio in a family of musicians, the son of a trumpeter father ...

, ''

Everything Must Change ''Everything Must Change'' is the debut studio album by singer Randy Crawford released in 1976 on the Warner Bros. label. Background It was recorded and mixed at Hollywood Sound Recorders except " I'm Easy" and "I've Never Been To Me", which, a ...

'' (Muse, 1978) * Grassella Oliphant, ''The Grass Is Greener'' (Atlantic, 1967) * Jimmy Ponder, ''

Mean Streets – No Bridges ''Mean Streets – No Bridges'' is an album by guitarist Jimmy Ponder that was released by Muse in 1987. Reception In his review on AllMusic, Ron Wynn called it "prototype Ponder; soul jazz and blues played with energy and a slick, yet resour ...

'' (Muse, 1987) * Jimmy Ponder, ''

Jump Jumping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism or non-living (e.g., robotic) mechanical system propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory. Jump or Jumping also may refer to: Places * Jump, Kentucky or Jump S ...

'' (Muse, 1989) *

, ''The Exciting Lloyd Price'' (ABC-Paramount, 1959) *

Harold Vick Harold Vick (April 3, 1936 – November 13, 1987) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. Biography Harold Vick was born on April 3, 1936 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. At the age of 13 he was given a clarinet by his uncle, Prince Robin ...

, ''

Steppin' Out! ''Steppin' Out!'' is the debut album by American saxophonist Harold Vick recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1963) *

Don Wilkerson Don Wilkerson (c. 1932 – 18 July 1986) was an American soul jazz / R&B tenor saxophonist born in Moreauville, Louisiana, probably better known for his Blue Note Records recordings in the 1960s as bandleader with guitarist Grant Green. Prior t ...

, ''

Shoutin' ''Shoutin is an album by American saxophonist Don Wilkerson recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1963) * John Zorn, ''

The Big Gundown ''The Big Gundown'' ( it, La resa dei conti, lit=The Settling of Scores) is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Sollima, and starring Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian. Plot Possessing a reputation for bringing criminals to justice, ...

'' (Elektra Nonesuch, 1986) * John Zorn, '' Spillane'' (Elektra Nonesuch, 1987)

References

External links

*
John Patton
discography on jazzlists.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Patton, John 1935 births 2002 deaths Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Soul-jazz organists Hard bop organists American jazz organists American male organists Blue Note Records artists DIW Records artists 20th-century American keyboardists 20th-century organists Jazz musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians