Jazz at JAKI: krajenski

Album-Releasetour 'B-3 Vol. 1'

"The Hammond hits me right in the heart," said organist, bandleader and arranger Lutz Krajenski in a conversation with Deutschlandfunk. What began on a Christmas Eve in the mid-1970s with a curious exploration of his father's accordion has developed into a remarkable music career over the past decades, thanks to the joy of discovery and the path via various instruments until Krajenski, who was born in Hanover, finally landed on the Hammond organ.

As musical director, pianist, arranger and bandleader, Krajenski has worked with singer Roger Cicero, as well as for Till Brönner, Randy Crawford, Carla Bley and Udo Jürgens, among others, and toured with Tom Jones. In October 2020, he stepped out from behind the scenes and released his debut solo album 'Orbit'. With 'B-3 Vol.1' now follows a trio album together with Ben Kraef on saxophone and drummer Peter Grall.

The Hammond organ was first heard in a New York church in April 1935. From there, Laurens Hammond's invention made its way to countless small churches in the U.S. and as a result, it made its international breakthrough. Krajenski plays the Hammond model B3, which has become legendary in the meantime, and does not allow himself to fall into any nostalgic mood, despite the classical organ trio instrumentation. The trio plays with the different expectations of the format and reflects on Jimmy Smith to Larry Young. Cliches are played around and broken with clever twists and turns. Tongue-twisting, rhythmic and harmonic tunes emerge.