Freddie Roach (organist)

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Freddie Roach (born May 11, 1931) is a soul jazz Hammond B3 organist born in the Bronx, New York and made his record debut in 1960 with saxophonist Ike Quebec on the albums "Heavy Soul" and "It Might As Well be Spring".At the time he was playing with Willis Jackson. From 1962-64 he recorded 5 albums as a leader for the Blue Note Records label and also recorded with Donald Byrd on the album "I´m trying to get Home". 1966-67 he recorded three more albums as a leader for Prestige Records, which are in a more commercial vein than his Blue Note dates. After those recordings he has disappeared from the scene.

Roach is a soulful organist, certainly influenced by Jimmy Smith (musician), but with a distinct sound and a quite original concept, which is perhaps best heard on "Good Move" for Blue Note. His Blue Note albums are worth looking for.^[1]