Photo by Howard A. Gitelson

One of the longest-running jazz gigs in the Twin Cities—maybe the longest—wind up at the Artists Quarter Tuesday night (June 28^th) when B-3 master Billy Hollman bids farewell to the Tuesday Night Band. Heading to Las Vegas, Hollman leaves behind nearly a decade his weekly pyrotechnics and a live recording. This will be a very special night!

I’m not even a die-hard fan of organ jazz. I used to avoid organ dates. But after hearing Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Mike LeDonne in the past year, I’ve come to recognize the Hammond B-3 as a powerful jazz voice. Hearing local “organizer” Holloman with his regular Tuesday Night Band at the AQ, as well as on their recent recording, I am now among the believers. This is jazz, not stadium or elevator music, and requires as much effort and musicianship to reach artistic nirvana as any jazz endeavor.

Photo by Al Iverson

Long-time organ grinder Billy Holloman has been playing gigs at the Artists Quarter for over nine years, most regularly on Tuesday nights with drummer-AQ owner Kenny Horst and multi-sax artist Gary Berg. Their recent recording from the AQ, This Is Organ Night, documents a typical set of the “Tuesday Night Band,” bringing lively, off-kilter readings to otherwise-familiar tunes and showcasing local talents that are often under-rated.

In addition to his ownership and management of the Artists Quarter, Kenny Horst is one of the most popular drummers in the area. He anchored Bobby Lyle’s Organ Trio for three years at the Blue Note in New York, toured with Jimmy McGriff, briefly with Al Hirt, and locally has played with many of the national artists booked at the AQ. He also managed the drum kit for Mikkel Romstad’s Organ Grinders. “His musical roots are deep and he swings like nobody’s business” (Don Berryman).

Multi-instrumentalist Gary Berg swings on tenor, alto, and soprano sax as well as the chromatic harmonica. He has played a supporting role for many area musicians, live and on record. Notes Don Berryman, “He lets the bop riffs ride on the groove in a way that’s true to the music and the feeling.”

And in the hub of it all is B-3 ace Billy “The Legend” Holloman, also Bobby Lyle’s brother-in-law. A “genius at manipulating the sweet sound of the B-3” (Don Berryman), Holloman started playing the organ night gigs at the old AQ at 5^th and Jackson, with Kenny Horst bartending, Holloman cooking up greens, and attracting a young crowd eager for both free food and hot music. And now, nearly ten years later, this gig is ending with Hollman’s departure. But the Tuesday Night Band is not history—Bill Brown will have the dubious honor of replacing Hollman. It’s a tough act to follow.

Photo by Al Iverson

Mozart dubbed the organ as the “king of instruments” and, at least around the Twin Cities, Billy Holloman has been the undisputed king of the organ. Come celebrate jazz royalty and wish Billy a happy reign in Sin City! And it’s only two bucks—try to find that entertainment value in Vegas!

The Artists Quarter is located in the lower level of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul; first set at 9 pm; www.mnjazz.org