Soul Jazz

Soul Jazz was the crossover jazz of the 1960s, a descendant of the Gospel-influenced Hard Bop of Horace Silver and the sounds of R&B. Les McCann infused his piano with a whole lot of Funk. Jimmy Smith brought the organ into the dancehalls. Inspired by his example, Hammond B-3 experts including Jimmy McGriff and Richard "Groove" Holmes played in combination with such gifted guitarists as Kenny Burrell and George Benson. Soul Jazz led to Funk and gave way to Fusion Jazz and Smooth Jazz, but it's experiencing a major Renaissance today. Hip-hop endlessly samples the masters, while groove-orientated Acid Jazz-sters study their licks.