Organ Ism

Saxophonist/composer Howie Smith has worked with musicians, composers and

ensembles as varied as Anthony Braxton, Gary Burton, Dizzy Gillespie, Dee Dee

Bridgewater, Elvis Presley, John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, the Cleveland Orchestra and

the Tone Road Ramblers. His recorded performances are equally diverse and his

extensive catalogue of compositions includes works for conventional big bands and

combos; for string, wind and percussion ensembles; for electronics; and for mixed

media. Recordings of his work may be heard on the Philips, Polydor, Albany, Optimism

and Sea Breeze labels. His most recent recording is Opal Dream, with famed

keyboardist Mike Nock, on Open Blue (OBCD-1201).

Guitarist Bob Ferrazza has appeared regularly in jazz clubs and concert halls around the

world with the likes of Donald Byrd, Joey DeFrancesco, Art Farmer, Slide Hamton, Billy

Hart, J.J. Johnson, Joe Lovano, Jack McDuff and David “Fathead” Newman. His first

recording as leader, Personal, was followed by The Way I Like It and Rare Beauty:

Intimate Gems of Duke Ellington on Koch Records. All have all garnered enthusiastic

reviews. Mr. Ferrazza has also served as director of the Jazz Studies program at the

Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

David Thomas, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, is a graduate of Case Western Reserve

and Cleveland State University. He toured with Dizzy Gillespie, recorded with jazz

saxophonist Phil Woods, and has performed with most of Cleveland’s finest jazz

musicians. As an educator he has been an instructor at the Cleveland School of the

Arts, Cuyahoga Community College, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland

State University. He is currently on the faculty at JFK High School.

Drummer and percussionist Bill Ransom is equally at home with classical, jazz, R&B and

rock. He has toured and recorded with leading artists including Patrice Rushen, Beth

Hart, Marion Meadows, Cecil Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Mary Wilson, and James

Newton. He spent much of the 90's on the road with contemporary saxophonist Najee

and R&B crooner Gerald LeVert, and his debut CD, Generations, was released

nationwide in November 2005 on Bongo Time Records.

Organ Ism, formed as a trio in early 2007, was transformed into a quartet with the

addition of Bob Ferrazza in 2011. Its repertoire comes from original compositions by

members of the group, and new takes on popular songs of the past 50 years by

composer/performers such as John Lennon/Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, Willie

Nelson, Paul Simon and Jimmy Webb.