Soul Jazz

Soul Jazz was the crossover jazz of the 1960s, a descendant of the Gospel-influenced Hard Bop of Horace Silver and the sounds of R&B. At a time when jazz was losing commercial ground to the youth market, Soul Jazz got the heart pumping and the backside shaking. Les McCann infused his piano with a whole lot of Funk. Jimmy Smith brought the organ out of the roller rink and into the dancehalls. Inspired by his example, Hammond B-3 experts including Jimmy McGriff and Richard "Groove" Holmes played in combination with such gifted guitarists as Kenny Burrell and George Benson. Hank Crawford and Stanley Turrentine were both master balladeers who demonstrated the emotional side of the style. Soul Jazz led to Funk and gave way to Fusion Jazz and Smooth Jazz, but it's experiencing a major Renaissance today. Hip-hop endlessly samples the masters, while groove-orientated Acid Jazz-sters study their licks. You want to start a party? Put on some Soul Jazz and watch things kick into high gear.