Fareed Haque

Tony Monaco / Fareed Haque Trio

Fareed Haque has spent much of career defying expectations of what the jazz guitarist is supposed to do and sound like. Recently, Haque has been tackling one of the most iconic and enduring contexts for his instrument, collaborating with Hammond B-3 master Tony Monaco in a hard-hitting organ combo.

Organist Tony Monaco from Columbus, Ohio, whose reserves of energy match the guitarist’s, studied with greats Hank Marr and Don Patterson but his greasy, rambunctious style owes serious debts to the great Jimmy Smith. His playing goes head-to-head with Joey DeFrancesco at his most extroverted.

The Trio has headlined many festivals including The JavaJazzfest, Detroit Jazz Fest, Chicago Jazz Fest, Columbus Jazz fest, Lafayette Jazz fest, Southbend JazzFest, The Pritzger Pavillion in Millenium Park, Chicago, and many others. Club appearances include such legendary venues as The Bluenote, NYC, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC, The Greenmill, Chicago, DazzleJazz Denver, Colorado and many many more.

"In the hands of Jimmy Smith, the organ could sing. Here, Monaco again proves that he too is the sort of high-caliber player who can coax such a response."
Downbeat Magazine
“Haque’s guitar in the opening, title track heats up a groove as potent as any track recorded by Melvin Sparks, Grant Greenor any other guitarist from the soul-jazz heydays of Prestige or Blue Note Records. Monaco’s original “Boogie Blue” kicks out even hotter and tastier jam: Haque’s rhythm hook stirs the funk up from the bottom and spreads it ’round the top while Monaco’s turn brings to mind a picture of Sun Ra reclining in a mellow mood behind his master keyboard console. “We’re trying to keep moving the tradition forward but yet keeping up with the times,” Monaco explains. “So it has more of a modern-day funk rather than just swing.”
All About Jazz
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In The Jam: Soul Jazz

Both committed educators, as well as busy performers, Monaco and Haque and legendary drummer Steve Smith, have released an educational DVD titled “In The Jam, 10 Essential b3 Grooves”.

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