Gerard Gibbs & Organized Crime at Blue LLama Jazz Club

Gerard Gibbs & ORGANized Crime made its debut at the 2000 Detroit International Jazz Festival. For almost 20 years this power-packed organ trio has been criss-crossing the metro Detroit area wowing countless audiences. With Gerard Gibbs mashing the manuals and stomping the pedals of the Hammond organ, Perry Hughes on guitar and the acrobatic drum stylings of Jabari Kersey, this organ trio brings its "A" game to every show.

Gerard Gibbs, leader and founder of Gerard Gibbs & ORGANized Crime, conceived the idea to form this group in order to both commemorate the teachings of his mentor, the late Richard “Groove” Holmes, and to fully embrace his love for the Hammond B-3 organ and the electric keyboards. He has been playing keyboards and organ for 35+ years, and attributes his accomplishments and overall musical development to the late organist as well as his father and mother, and the many local and national musicians who worked with him along the way. Gibbs currently leads this band, and tours nationally and internationally playing piano, keyboards and organ for saxophonist James Carter....

read more

Gerard Gibbs & ORGANized Crime made its debut at the 2000 Detroit International Jazz Festival. For almost 20 years this power-packed organ trio has been criss-crossing the metro Detroit area wowing countless audiences. With Gerard Gibbs mashing the manuals and stomping the pedals of the Hammond organ, Perry Hughes on guitar and the acrobatic drum stylings of Jabari Kersey, this organ trio brings its "A" game to every show.

Gerard Gibbs, leader and founder of Gerard Gibbs & ORGANized Crime, conceived the idea to form this group in order to both commemorate the teachings of his mentor, the late Richard “Groove” Holmes, and to fully embrace his love for the Hammond B-3 organ and the electric keyboards. He has been playing keyboards and organ for 35+ years, and attributes his accomplishments and overall musical development to the late organist as well as his father and mother, and the many local and national musicians who worked with him along the way. Gibbs currently leads this band, and tours nationally and internationally playing piano, keyboards and organ for saxophonist James Carter.

Perry Hughes, guitarist for the group, has been playing for over 50+ years. He began playing in many of Detroit’s premier nightclubs at the tender age of 14. His approach to the guitar has been said to be comparable to such greats as the late Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Pat Martino, and George Benson. His musical resume contains a “Who’s Who” of some the top jazz and pop musicians, they include: Earl Klugh, Marlena Shaw, Bobby Lyle, Ronnie Laws, Irene Reid, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson & The Supremes, organ greats, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ronnie Foster, the late Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Don Patterson, Richard “Groove” Holmes, and Jack McDuff. Currently, Perry plays with a few local jazz groups in Detroit. In addition, Hughes records and tours nationally with Grammy-award winning keyboardist, Bob James. He also occasionally lends his fantastic talents to drummer Harvey Mason of the hot jazz group, “Fourplay”.

Jabari Kersey, affectionately known as "The Acrobat", has been playing drums for well over 50 years. His parents recognized the talents of their young son when he began playing at the tender age of 3. While developing and honing his musical craft, he gravitated towards the drum styles of Lenny White, Airto Moreira, Babatunde Olantunji and Dennis Chambers. Through the years, Jabari has made quite a name for himself. Early in his career, he performed with several well-known theatrical productions like: "The Devil Made Me Do It", "The First Lady" starring gospel sensation, Vickie Winans; and "Black Nativity". He has performed with the late Phyllis Hyman, Howard Hewitt, The Spinners, Gary Taylor, Paul Taylor, Jeff Kashiwa, and Nick Colionne. Also for the past 20 years, Jabari has consistently toured nationally with saxman Marion Meadows. Jabari is a delight and a wonder to watch as he "acrobatically" twirls his drum sticks.

show less