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Club Scout
Published: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Band of the week: The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio

Kind of like products made in America, organ trios are not that common anymore. And it's even more rare when an organ trio features college-aged music junkies such as Chris Simonini, organist for The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio, a group that frequents southern New Jersey coffeeshops and concert stops like Bogart's Books and Music in Millville, where they'll be making an appearance on Friday, Nov. 21, to help the Millville Arts District celebrate Third Friday.

Simonini and his bandmates know their sound is unexpected and unique in southern New Jersey, and that their live show is also quite a thrill.

"Our group's live show is a diversion from the common organ trio show," he says. "We have a nice swing to our sound, with a deep groove and a very interesting perspective on the songs we cover as well as our original compositions."

Simonini admits that though the Trio loves to produce music they can call their own, they have a long list of influences that cannot be denied when describing their sound.

"Our sound is completely original," Simonini says. "But we do incorporate a rich, mellow tone like the classic organ trios like Richard Groove Holmes, Lonnie Smith and Eddie Lockjaw Davis."

But everyone's got to mix up a live set with a couple covers now and then even The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio.

"We almost always play a mix of originals and covers, and sometimes we just play all originals or all covers," Simonini adds.

Even though their sound is unique and unlike almost anything you've heard in southern New Jersey, all three members of The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio are born-and-bred southern New Jersians.

"Since we are all from South Jersey, playing here is like playing at home; it's very comfortable," Simonini says.

So go get cozy and comfy with The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio this Friday at Bogart's Books and Music, which is located on High Street in Millville. You can experience one of southern New Jersey's very own, original organ trios and, while you're at it, explore the Arts District of Millville for its Third Friday celebration. All festivities kick off at 6 p.m.

What They Play: A smooth yet sassy, interesting and intricate blend of organ, saxophone and guitar.

Roster: Chris Simonini, Hammond Combo organ; Paul Schenck, saxophone; Andrew Ingersoll, guitar.

Originals: The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio have recorded individual songs from time to time, but are still figuring out how to produce the exact kind of album they want. "We will ultimately end up recording our newest material that we have when we decide to press to CD," Simonini says. "You could definitely say an album is in the works."

Influences: Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Lester Young, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, John Coltrane and Pat Martino.

History: "The band originated in the summer of 2006, and we started out with a drummer and guitarist and swung a bunch of standard tunes and originals," Simonini says. "Then we made some personnel changes, dropped one guitarist, and switched our instruments. Andrew went from drums to guitar, Paul went from clarinet to sax and I went from piano to organ."

The Ritual: "After a gig, we always all go to Philadelphia for a cheesesteak at Pat's," Simonini reveals. "We also hit up the record stores to expand our collections."

Go See Them: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Borgat's Books and Music, High Street, Millville, 856-327-3714. You can also catch the Trio at Higher grounds Coffee Shop, 21 Rosenhayne Ave., Bridgeton, at 6 p.m. Jan. 16.

Web Site:

www.myspace.com/simoninischenck


- Story by Rebecca Grites; photo provided by The Cardigans and Hollowbodies Trio

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