John Patton, 66; Organ Player Led Soul-Jazz Trio

Big John Patton, 66, a soul-jazz organ player known for his innovative deployment of the Hammond B3 organ, died Tuesday of complications from diabetes and kidney malfunction in Montclair, N.J.

Patton started out on the piano and played with rhythm and blues singer Lloyd Price from 1954 to 1959. He left Price and took up the organ. By the early 1960s, he was making his own recordings and collaborating with saxophonist Lou Donaldson, guitarist Grant Green and drummer Ben Dixon in a band led by Donaldson.

For several years during the 1960s, he led his own soul-jazz trio, which included Clifford Jarvis and James “Blood” Ulmer, and made 11 albums for the Blue Note label.

Later he recorded albums such as “Soul Connection” and “This One’s for J.A.” for the labels Nilva and DIW.

His career enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s when John Zorn hired him to play the “Erotico” track on his 1986 album, “The Big Gundown.” Their collaboration coincided with a comeback for 1960s organ jazz.