Eddie Landsberg
Encyclopedia
Eddie Landsberg is a Tokyo
-based, Philadelphia-born jazz
organist
, best known for his endeavours into jazz education and his "jazz evangelism", which has involved establishing jazz bandstand
s and educational clinics around the world, including Eddie's Lounge, his home base and jazz organ bar located in downtown Tokyo.
He received his first lesson from the late Shirley Scott
, then underwent mentoring from Big John Patton
. Landsberg also acknowledges heavy influences from organists Freddie Roach and Wild Bill Davis.
Landsberg insists that the bandstand in his venue be placed in the center of the room instead of front stage, forcing all musicians to look directly at each other so they can make better eye contact and communication
having created what he describes as the first method in jazz to describe the secrets of soulful playing. Landsberg has also summed up the rules of jazz harmony
by breaking them down into seven simple rules of thumb which he calls The 7 Secrets of Jazz and Soul. He has also produced a video on Jazz and Gospel music instruction called the "7 Secrets Jazz Organ Workshop".
His first CD "Remembering Eddie Jefferson" was co-produced by Blue Note
recording artist Ben Dixon and also featured bebop vocalist Giacomo Gates
and James Spaulding, and made National Jazz charts across the United States
. His follow-up CD "Man With A Groove" was produced and recorded in Sweden and featured a demo track for Clavia
's Nord Electro 73 keyboard and also used as background music for a DVD produced by the Tokyo Weekender magazine
celebrating the opening of the Roppongi Hills
shopping complex as well as background music for a Yamaha
exhibition video. A third CD "Them That Swingeth", featuring members of Jack McDuff
's Heating Station as well as Jazz guitarist Royce Campbell was nominated as "recommended listening" on HMV's in-store listening stations in Japan.
The original factory demonstrator for Clavia's NORD ELECTRO keyboard, Landsberg has also been credited as an assistant Vocal Producer and has written lyrics for Special Others
("Good Morning" rel. Nov. 2007), a J-Pop
/Jam Band that records for Victor Entertainment
's Babestar record label.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-based, Philadelphia-born jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, best known for his endeavours into jazz education and his "jazz evangelism", which has involved establishing jazz bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
s and educational clinics around the world, including Eddie's Lounge, his home base and jazz organ bar located in downtown Tokyo.
He received his first lesson from the late Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist. She was most known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis...
, then underwent mentoring from Big John Patton
John Patton (musician)
John Patton , sometimes nicknamed Big John Patton, was a hard bop and soul jazz organist....
. Landsberg also acknowledges heavy influences from organists Freddie Roach and Wild Bill Davis.
Landsberg insists that the bandstand in his venue be placed in the center of the room instead of front stage, forcing all musicians to look directly at each other so they can make better eye contact and communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
having created what he describes as the first method in jazz to describe the secrets of soulful playing. Landsberg has also summed up the rules of jazz harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
by breaking them down into seven simple rules of thumb which he calls The 7 Secrets of Jazz and Soul. He has also produced a video on Jazz and Gospel music instruction called the "7 Secrets Jazz Organ Workshop".
His first CD "Remembering Eddie Jefferson" was co-produced by Blue Note
Blue note
In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
recording artist Ben Dixon and also featured bebop vocalist Giacomo Gates
Giacomo Gates
Giacomo Gates is an American jazz vocalist. He works to interpret old jazz standards, practices vocalese singing, and is active in jazz education...
and James Spaulding, and made National Jazz charts across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His follow-up CD "Man With A Groove" was produced and recorded in Sweden and featured a demo track for Clavia
Clavia
Clavia Digital Musical Instruments is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson.-The Company:...
's Nord Electro 73 keyboard and also used as background music for a DVD produced by the Tokyo Weekender magazine
Tokyo weekender
Tokyo Weekender magazine is the oldest free English publication in Japan.Founded in 1970 by Corky Alexander, the Weekender is published bi-monthly and is distributed in central Tokyo and via Fuji San, Japan's largest magazine subscription site....
celebrating the opening of the Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills
is a New Urban Centre and one of Japan's largest integrated property developments, located in the Roppongi district of Minato, Tokyo.Constructed by building tycoon Minoru Mori, the mega-complex incorporates office space, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafés, movie theaters, a museum, a hotel, a...
shopping complex as well as background music for a Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
exhibition video. A third CD "Them That Swingeth", featuring members of Jack McDuff
Jack McDuff
"Brother" Jack McDuff was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio.-Career:...
's Heating Station as well as Jazz guitarist Royce Campbell was nominated as "recommended listening" on HMV's in-store listening stations in Japan.
The original factory demonstrator for Clavia's NORD ELECTRO keyboard, Landsberg has also been credited as an assistant Vocal Producer and has written lyrics for Special Others
Special Others
Special Others is a Japanese band that blends improvised jazz with post-rock influences. The members of the band met in high school and formed the group in 1995...
("Good Morning" rel. Nov. 2007), a J-Pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
/Jam Band that records for Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
's Babestar record label.