Dr. B3: The Soul of the Music

A documentary film on NEA Jazz Master, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and the iconic B3 organ.

Dr. B3; The Soul of the Music is a documentary which tells the amazing story of Hammond organist Dr. Lonnie Smith - from childhood doo-wop singer to becoming a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master. It was the kindness of the owner of a local music shop in Buffalo that landed Lonnie ownership of a mighty Hammond B3. In Buffalo’s vibrant 1960s Jazz scene word of Lonnie’s talent spread quickly and one night when Lonnie was offered to play the organ by Brother Jack McDuff, Lonnie caught the ears of a 20 year old guitarist. Within a short time Lonnie and George Benson caught the ear of Columbia Records exec John Hammond and became recording artists and the rest, as they say, is music history! Dr. Lonnie Smith’s story will be told through archival and contemporary concert footage. interviews with collaborators such as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Don Was, Rudy Van Gelder and fans like Iggy Pop and Ali Shaheed Mohammed.

Emmy-award winning Canadian film producer Ed Barreveld is calling on the jazz community to help him complete a documentary on Hammond organ legend Dr Lonnie Smith.

Toronto-based Barreveld has launched an Indiegogo fundraiser to help him get the project, directed by first-time film-maker Howard Goldstein, to the ‘rough cut’ stage so that it can be shown to potential purchasers, as well as licencees and broadcasters.

He told Jazzwise: “I’ve been a jazz fan since my early teens and after I discovered Jimmy Smith, I’ve had a special affinity for the Hammond B3.

“Last autumn I was approached by Howard Goldstein who had been shooting footage for a documentary about NEA Jazz Master and B3 master Dr Lonnie Smith. In addition to filming Lonnie on and off stage, Howard interviewed people such as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Joe Lovano, Don Was, Joey DeFrancesco and Rudy Van Gelder (a rare interview and one of his last). Howard self-financed the shoot and needed help to move the film forward, which is how I got involved.

“There is international market interest in the film, but people want to see a rough cut (a general outline of what the final film will look like) before purchasing or licensing the film. To get us to the rough cut stage we have, with Lonnie and his manager’s full support, launched an Indiegogo campaign. There are some very cool perks available to donors from autographed photos and CDs, to virtual concerts with Jonathan Kreisberg, Peter Bernstein and Akiko Tsuruga.”

To find out how you can help click here to watch a teaser clip and visit www.StorylineEntertainment.com

Kevin Whitlock
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020