The Jazz Organ Scene

USA

Leon Spencer Leon Spencer was born in Houston, TX, in 1945, and started piano lessons early, studying the instrument for more than ten years. He gigged around Texas with David Newman then attended Texas Southern University to study engineering. He later attended the University of Houston. After getting out of the army, Leon heard Jimmy Smith in person and decided to take up the organ and backed Houston visitors like Peggy Lee and Lou Rawls when they came through town.   He also gigged around Texas with fellow Houston native, guitarist Melvin Sparks, whom he first met while the two were in school together. In 1969, Spencer spent three months in Los Angeles, where he made his recording debut with guitarist Wilbert Longmire, who he'd work with again over the years. He came to New York in 1970 and immediately found opportunities working with his friend, Melvin Sparks. Important was also his cooperation with Lou Donaldson; they recorded various albums together.   His recording career concentrated in the early 1970's, when albums such as Sneak Preview, Louisiana Slim, Bad Walking Woman, and Where I'm Coming From were released on the Prestige label. Some of his music was reissued in 1997 as Roots of Acid Jazz. Bob Porter wrote in his liner notes: "As a player Spencer was all Jimmy Smith on top, but his use of organ bass was most unusual. He would use the lower manual much more than most players and develop bass lines that had considerably more than average range. It is fortunate that master engineer Rudy Van Gelder was aboard for these dates because he brings out the very best in Spencer's organ sound."   Leon died in 2012.   partially from Doug Payne (his blog Sound Insight)

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