Like many of the Hammond organ players in jazz Milt Buckner (1915-1977) began as a pianist. His penchant for rocking rhythms and boogie woogie served him well when he began using the organ in the 1950s.
Buckner, if one discounts the early pipe organ recordings of Fats Waller and the occasional forays on the organ by Count Basie, was a pioneer, along with Wild Bill Davis, in the use of the instrument in jazz. His influence extended into both jazz and rhythm-and-blues and helped pave the way for the likes of Bill Doggett, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and countless others.
Buckner recorded prolifically for Capitol, Argo, Bethlehem and Cadet in the '50s and '60s. You'll get your money's worth with any of these recordings. In my opinion Buckner never made a bad album -- and I've heard most of them.
After 1966 Buckner lived almost exclusively in Europe. He recorded a series of high-quality albums in France for the Black & Blue label.
The Bethlehem 45 of Fever (b/w Why Don't You Do Right) dates from 1963. Both sides of the single were included on the LP The New World of Milt Buckner.
Buckner is accompanied by Gene Redd on vibes, Bill Wallis on bass and Phil Paul on drums. You can listen to Fever (MP3 taken from the 45 single) below.
Fever
The New World of Milt Buckner apparently was issued on a Japanese CD earlier this year, but it doesn't appear to be available anywhere outside of Japan. The album, however, is easily obtained as a download from a variety of sources.
From YouTube here's the extended album version of Fever. It's a minute or so longer than the 45 edit -- in stereo, too.
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