Chris Foreman

Chris Foreman is a Chicago Hammond B-3 organist whose work centers on Deep Blue Organ Trio, Soul Message Band, and the city's organ-jazz tradition.

Hammond B-3 organPianoComposerBandleader8 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Chris Foreman

Soul Message Band and Origin trace Foreman's path from childhood piano study to intensive study of organ recordings by Jack McDuff, Groove Holmes, Jimmy Smith, and Jimmy McGriff. Both sources place his musical language at the meeting point of blues, gospel, and jazz.[1][2]

Foreman's durable ensemble history joins two organ groups. Delmark documents Deep Blue Organ Trio as a working band formed in 1992 with Bobby Broom and Greg Rockingham; Soul Message Band continues his decades-long rhythm partnership with Rockingham in a newer lineup.[3][1][4]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Organist and member

Deep Blue Organ Trio

Formed 1992

The trio with guitarist Bobby Broom and drummer Greg Rockingham developed through a recurring Green Mill engagement and multiple Delmark and Origin recordings.[3][2]

Organist and member

Soul Message Band

Foreman and Rockingham carry their long rhythm-section partnership into an organ group with guitar and saxophone voices.[1][4]

Organist and bandleader

Chicago organ-jazz practice

Foreman's biographies document a Chicago-centered practice shaped by organ-jazz recordings, church apprenticeship, and long-running club work.[1][2]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2004 · Delmark Records

Deep Blue Bruise

Organist with Deep Blue Organ Trio

The trio recording documents Foreman with guitarist Bobby Broom and drummer Greg Rockingham after the group established its Green Mill residency.[3]

Release details

2011 · Origin Records

Wonderful!

Organist with Deep Blue Organ Trio

Origin's Foreman catalog identifies Wonderful! as one of the label's Deep Blue Organ Trio recordings featuring his Hammond organ.[2]

Release details

2019 · Delmark Records

Soulful Days

Organist with Soul Message Band

The Soul Message Band debut places Foreman and Rockingham with a guitar-and-saxophone front line in a classic organ-combo format.[4]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Soul Message Band

Open the band's official site for its recordings, videos, and current first-party listening paths.

Soulful Days

Explore the Delmark release page for the complete album description and authorized purchase path.

Green Mill · Chicago

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

[1] Official Soul Message Band member biographies
Soul Message Band
[2] Label biography and recording catalog
Origin Records
[3] Deep Blue Bruise release and trio history
Delmark Records
[4] Soulful Days release and personnel notes
Delmark Records