Chester Thompson - Hammond Organ Clinic (full version)

[@fortnermedia3994]

Hi all! I’m the former editor of Keyboard Magazine and I was in the room shooting this video when Chester came to visit. It was one of the best days of my life. I’m so glad to see this video preserved.

[@radio.m.i.x]

Thanks for the comment. Since I found this treasure, I literally played this video hundreds of times, almost every day for several years. I'm a big fan of CT, and I learned a lot from this video. For Hammond players, everything shown in this video is pure gold, especially playing left hand and footwork. Thanks for your effort!

[@armstronglance]

Chester’s amazing! Thanks for filming this! Wish I’d learned to kick the bass pedals like Chester. I was too busy playing prog rock on just the top manuals. Lee Michael’s was another guy way back holding down bass duties on the pedals. Until these guys, we thought pedals was pretty much the church lady’s thing.

[@piktormusic2538]

Mr. Fortner, thank you for having the foresight to record CT on that day. I miss the old KB magazine under your direction, BTW.

[@dwayneaguiar1148]

The best B3 Player in the world.🥁😎🥁

[@kaydickerson1229]

I love his percussive foot work !

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

Those suspended notes are like his signature style. He is a master!!!

[@organeu]

Very great HAMMOND player, Chester knows perfectly all the mysteries of the Hammond, he is a fabulous expert who trims all the incredible sounds of this legendary organ which is over 60 years old .

[@hazor777]

He is an absolute GENIUS!!

[@woody95124]

Guy is totally awesome on the organ...Can listen to Chester all day...Very interesting on wht he does with the organ..The differant technics......

[@IMCcanTWEESTED]

I so covet the organ chops of this man. Every COGIC organist I've ever heard has similar ability. Talent gots to be from the Holy Spirit!! It speaks to my soul.

[@cliffworks748]

WOW thank you radioman. I am cliffworks in Tokyo since 1970's, I brought Bruce Conte here for workshops RIP

[@randyzaucha4049]

Yes! I just "retired" and bought a Hammond SK Pro and now have the time to really learn how to play it. (with Motion Sound!) I love his style and will be studying this terrific video. Muchas Gracias!!

[@clintcbrantley5542]

The greatest keyboardist, organist in the world 🌎 Hands Down! I challenge anyone to find someone better than him!!!

[@martins5476]

I 1000% agree with you!!! He is GOD on the B3... his solo's transport me to my happy place every time!!!

[@BluesDivinity]

@@martins5476Steve Winwood takes the cake on best b3 player. I’m sorry, I don’t write the rules

[@gordoh7634]

He's my favorite, but we can't deny Joey DeFrancesco!

[@josephsanchez1852]

Chester ,you've got the touch!

[@donniblanco5239]

If this was in my local Church - I would be there! 🎹🎼

[@davidmccall4776]

Along with Chuck Leavell, Chester "CT" Thompson is one of the absolute best Hammond B-3 masters alive today! Rest in peace Billy Preston. 👑🎹🎹🎹🎹👑

[@KrisYunker]

That organ and leslie sound so damned good! A lot of that has to do with Chester being the baddest dude ever but that Schliecher chop is crushing!!!

[@josephsanchez1852]

Legendary chops!

[@1SquidBoy]

thank you for uploading this

[@PRusso-he1og]

One of a kind!

[@pikratewilson6824]

drummers aren't necessarily organists, but all organists are drummers.

[@PJRII]

Wow! And thank you for putting this up.

[@downpatmusic]

Bad A is all I can say. A band in the box. Holly cow! Just add horns and you're done! Okay, I cont listening, I must say, this video had changed my life!! Hahah! Not kidding. I think the reason why less is more on the organ is that those draw bars bring in extra note doublings. So when you pull out the draw bars you are adding the octave, the fifth, a 3rd I think. So one note triggers all of these pitches. Thus you don't need to play as many notes. One note played on the organ can trigger 3, 4, or 5 pitches. In a way it feels like cheating compared to piano technique. On piano you have to play all of those pitches. On the organ you can focus on groove, timing, and other challenges as CT so well displays. Do it with 3 or 4 notes and groove and there you go. AMAZING CHESTER THOMPSON-AMAZING GRACE! Brings tears to the house man. Thank you for your music.

[@SOT2011]

Thanks so much for sharing!

[@lerpack455]

Thinks....CT is never going to use on stage a Hammond Xk3c or Xk5 ! Many times he has made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. Along with Wild Bill Davies and Billy Preston - used the Leslie ‘stop’ to ‘fast tremolo’. What an amazing sound. And what the hell is CT using here.... some custom birds-eye wood conversion? Brilliant tips anyway. A master of the beast.

[@dgano]

Any idea what model that is?? It's much deeper than my B3. The top is huge.

[@wilblades]

@@dgano that's a B-3 chop (Oakland chop) made by by Bob Schleicher RIP. There's a bunch of them out there!

[@mackgrout]

wow incredible

[@mackgrout]

wow, thank you for sharing this I have watched it twice now and this is a treasure

[@cowprez]

Did I hear him say 'Jimmy' as in Jimmy Smith????

[@pavlobutorin]

Wow! Thanks a lot!

[@Holmbendtsen]

Seldom have I heard any make the XK3 sound sound so authentic!!!

[@PietroTaucher]

thank you!!!

[@felipepanos1648]

Leon Thomas - Song For My Father

[@robertdowler3347]

The next best thing in case you've not gone to Church today.

[@andrewgillis8572]

Somewhere between Rocco, Garibaldi, Pickett and this cat, - including his songwriting EG That's Why i Sing - ToP went far beyond Mandrill, Brass Construction, AWB & other fine funk bands I now hear them as in a league with the Meters, Parliament - so many characteristics for young players to imitate - music schools should of course emphasize James Brown came first, & show kids how that ensemble worked circa '66 - and Sly is by rights an even longer study

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

TOP is musician music. The more you know about music, the more you appreciate them. I am a guitarist by choice, but I really appreciate EVERY instrument that TOP incorporates. What makes them unique is that each member had their own special style that combined MADE that one of a kind group. Will never be another one like them.

[@markprater1]

The closest ensemble group today is Snarky Puppy, but if they had a vocalist anywhere near Lenny White's level, they would spearhead a whole new genre...

[@rondeezy121]

My F*ckin' goodness!!!!!!!!

[@louisdavis6603]

effortless

[@alexdicicco2890]

East bay grease was one of the first albums i owned!

[@robertdowler3347]

He was great with Santana,too

[@ouahibhdj8022]

Mr " CT " !!!!

[@robertdowler8583]

Da Ebony Jam Cat.

[@silvabakx6396]

2 Superbad musicians from the 70s - still active - who happen to share the same name. Can we get the "Chester Thompson vs Chester Thompson - Clash of the Titans" collab before 2024!? pleeez!?

[@radio.m.i.x]

in the mid-80s, they played together in Santana band. there are a few clips on youtube.

[@silvabakx6396]

@@radio.m.i.x I was wondering if they had ever crossed paths professionally. Santana indeed!!! Thnx for the tip ✌

[@kristoferpersson1614]

He was from an other planet?

[@louisdavis6603]

kneel God's awesomeness of CT

[@Erogyerb52]

CT!

[@octaviovazquez62]

CT Chester Thompson!! El Master del Organo impresionante musico ,lo recuerdo en sus años con el gran Carlos Santana.

[@josephhunt2478]

not sure about better but Bobby Forrester is amazing

[@cgdmusicman09]

CT! Watch his feet!

[@earllightsey2980]

What kinda organ is this? Resembles a B3 but looks a little different.

[@rmo52]

There are 2 here: A modded original B-3, and the newest digital one I believe. I’m too old school, gotta be under #100,000 serial number and round top drawbars.

[@wilblades]

The great Bay Area organ tech, Bob Schleicher (RIP), built that chop...called the "Oakland Chop". 10 inches deep and has a solid state pre-amp, with EQ, adjustable percussion, reverb, effects loop, AMAZING instrument. He mostly built them from A-100's