by Marco Benevento

Blistering B-3 - Click for Audio. Jazz legend Larry Young was one of the first organists to play his Hammond B-3 through a Fender Twin amp. I love this sound, and I replicate it here using Native Instruments B4 — the “B3 Clean” patch through the “Fender Reverb” setting. Reverb and distortion are at 3 o’clock. Try it yourself on any clonewheel organ, through a real Fender Twin or an amp-modeling emulation. This line is great for hand independence, and for stretching a lick across the bar line.

Preamped Piano - Click for Audio. Here’s a loop that morphed into a theme for the song “Bus Ride” on my album Invisible Baby. You can get amazing sounds by attaching a boundary mic [e.g., Crown PZM] to the soundboard of your piano. Run it through a preamp, then into a looper [e.g., Ableton Live’s, or a Boss LoopStation pedal if you prefer hardware], and record this sequence. Using different bass notes can introduce new sonorities into the pattern.

Roughed-up Rhodes - Click for Audio. This example is inspired by a project in which I’m currently involved, dedicated to Miles Davis’ seminal fusion album Bitches Brew, which featured Joe Zawinul and Chick Corea on Rhodes. Try it with your EP clone through an amp modeler for a little crunch. I prefer vintage instruments, but if I have to use a simulated Rhodes live, I’ll run it through a ’60s tube amp (like a Sears Silvertone) to get added color.

 Wurly Wow - Click for Audio. One of the great things about a Wurlitzer EP is its ability to feed back. Try running your Wurly or clone through distortion and a volume pedal, plus a tube amp. Set your speaker cabinet close to the Wurly, crank up the distortion (while the volume pedal is down), then slowly raise the volume pedal to “play” the musically useful feedback. Just a few notes go a long way under these conditions, so here’s a simple progression.

Sonic iron chef Marco Benevento cooks up tasty musical fusion, both solo and as half of the acclaimed Benevento/Russo Duo. His new DVD is titled Marco Benevento and Friends Live in NYC: The Sullivan Hall Residency. He’s currently at work on a new studio album and DVD, due in May. This month, he contributes four jazz-rock licks that prove that a little overdrive (or even a little more) isn’t just for guitarists. For more info, visit marcobenvento.com .