Organissimo was founded in November 2000 to bring new music to the organ trio format. Joe Gloss, guitarist, and Jim Alfredson, organist, met at Michigan State University in late 1990s. They quickly discovered a rare musical chemistry. Randy Marsh was the perfect drummer to complete their team. After Joe’s departure, Ralph Tope, a Detroit guitarist joined the band in 2010. Organissimo’s focus is still on original material, and continuing the tradition of the organ-based trio. The sound of organissimo is immediately identifiable and constantly evolving. It fuses elements of gospel, blues, jazz, and Latin rhythms to create a solid foundation for jazz. The organissimo sound is known for its shifting meters, deep grooves and melodic finesse, as well as tight ensemble interplay. Organissimo’s music won numerous national and local awards. Groovadelphia by organissimo topped the CMJ Jazz Charts three weeks ago at #1. It remained in the JazzWeek Top 50 for fourteen weeks, peaking at #22. It was nominated for two WYCE Jammie Awards, Best Jazz Album and Best Song, and also ranked in the JazzWeek Top 50 for 14 weeks, peaking at #22. It has also been nominated to receive a Detroit Music Award. The second album by organissimo, “This Is The Place”, reached #19 on JazzWeek charts. It also reached solid #4 on CMJ charts. The album won two WYCE 2006 Jammie Awards, for Best Jazz Album and Album Of the Year. It was also nominated for the 2005 Detroit Music Award. It was also named by Jim Wilke’s Jazz After Hours in Seattle, WHRV, WBEZ, Chicago, WVIA-FM, Pittston PA, WBLV Blue Lake Public Radio in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti and KXJS, Sacramento, WYCE, Grand Rapids, Jazz 91 in Rochester NY, Real Detroit Weekly Magazine, the Lansing City Pulse, and the Detroit MetroTimes as one of the best releases of 2005. NPR featured the CD in its Open Mic series. The group won the WYCE Jammy Award for Best Jazz Album for “Waiting for The Boogaloo Sisters ” (which also features Ron Blake, a prominent New York saxophonist). Jim Wilke’s Jazz After Hours program named the CD one of the Top Releases of 2003. It was syndicated to over 60 NPR stations across the country. CDBaby
