Don Patterson turned to the Hammond B-3 after hearing Jimmy Smith, becoming one of its most bop-oriented practitioners and moving fluidly between blues-infused soul-jazz grooves and fleet, precisely articulated single-line solos. Although he headed many sessions for Prestige and, later, Muse, his greatest renown came from serving as Sonny Stitt’s preferred organist, a partnership in which he meshed seamlessly with the saxophonist’s Parker-derived approach. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on July 22, 1936, Patterson took up piano in childhood; Erroll Garner was his earliest significant model, and traces of that style lingered in his work long after he switched instruments upon encountering Jimmy Smith in 1956. He made his first professional appearance on organ in 1959 and worked with several ensembles before Stitt found him. That connection elevated his profile, leading to his initial Prestige recordings in 1964, frequently alongside guitarist Pat Martino and drummer Billy James in a trio format. Throughout the remainder of the 1960s he also accompanied other leading soul-jazz saxophonists, then relocated to Gary, Indiana, near the decade’s close. Addiction limited his studio activity, resulting in only scattered Muse dates during the 1970s. A move to Philadelphia brought a modest resurgence, yet declining health soon required regular dialysis, and he died on February 10, 1988.
