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Pat Bianchi

A modern ambassador of the mighty Hammond B3, organist Pat Bianchi demonstrates a deep knowledge of jazz-organ history yet draws from a wide range of other musical influences. The result is a unique and creative voice that acknowledges the tradition while looking beyond at the same moment.

His musical tenacity paved the way for 9 CD releases as a leader, extensive tours through out the United States and Europe, appearances at numerous jazz festivals and most recently opening for Steely Dan for 3 consecutive east coast tours. In addition to being a prolific bandleader Bianchi has appeared as a guest on over 30 recordings. The award winning organist has also enjoyed tenured membership in the bands of some of the most highly revered artists in jazz including; Pat Martino, Lou Donaldson, Joe Locke, Ralph Peterson Jr. and Chuck Loeb.

With additional performance credits which include: Red Holloway, George Coleman, Terrace Martin, Mark Whitfield, Joey DeFrancesco, Roy Ayers, Terell Stafford, Dakota Staton, Javon Jackson, Tim Warfield and Alvin Queen among many others, Bianchi continues to be in high demand. His command of the instrument, harmonic prowess, rhythmic intensity and versatility are rivaled by few.

Born in Rochester New York, Bianchi hails from a musically gifted family. He began playing organ at the age of 7 and was playing his first professional gigs by the age of 11. In grade school he was enrolled at The Eastman School of Music’s preparatory program for piano and music theory while at the same time, being mentored by numerous musicians in the Rochester music scene. Upon graduation from Berklee, Bianchi relocated to Denver, CO where he further honed his skill as musician. Inevitably he would relocate back to the east coast and New York City has been his home for over 15 years.

While maintaining an active performance schedule, Bianchi also teaches jazz organ at Berklee College of Music. He has been an integral author of curriculum for one of the first Hammond organ programs and official majors offered by an institution of higher education. You can also hear Pat on Sirius XM Radio where he hosts the weekly show “Organized” featuring the greats of Jazz organ.

Awards

Winner of 2016 Downbeat Magazines Critics Rising Star Poll

Gear

Official endorsing artist of Viscount Legend Organs, Bookerlab Audio, Loundsberry Pedals, Pearl/McMillen Instruments and Acustica Audio.

Tim Warfield: One For Shirley

by C. Andrew Hovan
February 20, 2024

Jimmy Smith and Larry Young have continually set the benchmark for creative endeavors involving jazz and the Hammond B-3 organ, Smith being acknowledged for bringing the technical virtuosity of be-bop to the instrument and Young for expanding the vernacular based on the forward-thinking implications of John Coltrane. Somewhere in between these two, a colorful range of styles proliferated throughout the '50s and '60s, from the cocktail jazz of Milt Buckner to the soulful grooves of Big" John Patton. But it ...

Album Review

Clark Gibson: Counterclock

Read "Counterclock" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 10, 2023

Saxophonist Clark Gibson's Counterclock demonstrates the synergy that can be generated by an outstanding group of performers, including trumpeter Sean Jones, trombonist Michael Dease, Hammond B-3 organist Pat Bianchi, vibraphonist Nick Mancini and drummer extraordinaire Lewis Nash. While pushing the boundaries, the set list, with one exception, is made up of original compositions by Gibson and Mancini. The opener, “Conflict," captures Gibson's emotive alto saxophone work as he is pushed along by Nash's drumming and Bianchi's ...

Album Review

Shawn Purcell: 180

by Jack Bowers
October 19, 2022

Guitarist Shawn Purcell's latest CD, 180, is all about swinging; Purcell's trio (Pat Bianchi on Hammond B3 organ, Jason Tiemann on drums) nestles squarely into the groove on the double-quick opener, “Cat and Mouse," which sets an upbeat tone for the album as a whole. The rhythm seldom flags on Purcell's sunny compositions (he wrote all but one of the album's eleven numbers). An exception to the rhythmic rule is the lone standard, Johnny Mercer & Paul ...

Album Review

Pat Bianchi: Something to Say: The Music of Stevie Wonder

Read "Something to Say: The Music of Stevie Wonder" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer

by Victor L. Schermer
January 28, 2022

This album is a tribute to Stevie Wonder, who beyond his popularity and fame has always been a an exceptional musician. It features four superb musicians, an organ trio consisting of Pat Bianchi on Hammond B-3 organ, Paul Bollenback on guitar, and Byron Landham on drums, with Wayne Escoffery as guest tenor saxophonist that honors Wonder's work with artistry and attention to his unique style. It synthesizes the jazz swing idiom with R&B/ soul music, both of which inspired Wonder ...

Album Review

Pat Bianchi: Something to Say: The Music of Stevie Wonder

Read "Something to Say: The Music of Stevie Wonder" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
December 25, 2021

When considering pop artists whose music might readily lend itself to a jazz milieu, Stevie Wonder's name isn't one that springs readily to mind. Organist Pat Bianchi, however, felt that Wonder had Something to Say in a jazz context, so he set about canvassing Wonder's art and reimagining it in terms of an organ trio, accentuating the composer's singular gift for melody and harmony and replacing the lyrics with solos by organ, guitar and (in two instances) tenor saxophone.

Interview

Pat Bianchi: B3 Master

by R.J. DeLuke
December 27, 2019

It may be that young Pat Bianchi had little choice but to follow a career in music. After all, his father and both his grandfathers played professionally in his hometown of Rochester, NY, an area that also produced the likes of the Mangione brothers (Chuck and Gap), pianist Frank Strazzeri, saxophonist Gerry Niewood and drum legend Steve Gadd. “When I came to music, jazz was probably a given because the grandfathers—Pat Bianchi and Richard Zona, sax and trumpet, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Hampton Hawes, Oscar Peterson & More

by Joe Dimino
March 4, 2019

Dig into a good heaping portion of jazz organ with Pat Bianchi joined by vibes master Joe Locke, followed up by a new cut off Joey DeFrancesco' latest CD In the Key of the Universe. As the hour moves on, we explore the life and music of Italian jazz cat Roberto Magris and his deep ties to the Kansas City Jazz community. We then go on looking into a diverse set of acts likeBig Heart Machine, Jim McNeely, Kansas City ...

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Recording

Guitarist Chuck Loeb Releases "Plain 'N' Simple", B-3 Organ Combo Date w/Harvey Mason, Pat Bianchi, on Tweety Records

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations
August 16, 2011

Long before Chuck Loeb embarked on his remarkably diverse career that has included being Stan Getz's musical director, holding the guitar chair in the 80s fusion ensemble Steps Ahead and, most recently, joining supergroup Fourplay, he was a kid growing up outside New York City, fascinated by the classic jazz organ trio sounds of his childhood. Capping a two decade-plus discography of popular and often groundbreaking contemporary jazz recordings, Loeb fulfills a lifelong dream with the release of Plain 'n' ...
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Recording

Organist Pat Bianchi Releases New CD "Back Home"

Source: Michael Ricci
July 1, 2010

New York City based jazz organist Pat Bianchi will be releasing his sophomore recording entitled Back Home on the Doodlin' Records label. It will be available nationwide on July 13, 2010.

Following the success of his first CD, East Coast Roots, released on Jazz Media, Bianchi's Back Home continues to showcase a different repertoire than that usually associated with the Hammond B3. On this recording, he performs compositions of Chick Corea, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane among others.

This CD ...
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"The legacy and tradition of the organ is dependent on the young players of today. Pat Bianchi is one of the voices who will take it into the future." Dr. Lonnie Smith

"A virtuosic organist" Pat Martino

“Bianchi has carved out a spot for himself among jazz’s elite organists. While he’s a proponent of the classic organ trio sound, he’s not confined by it.” Phil Lutz

"Bianchi, has established his own voice as an organist, something not easily done and gives ample evidence why many regard him as the next big thing on the venerable Hammond B3"