Hands.

A musician has got to hear the music. If it’s going to be good, his bones ought to feel it. If it’s going to make sense and take listeners to a higher level, then his brain must process the keys, chords, and arrangements. However, his hands…well, nothing can happen between what he hears, feels, and understands without his hands.

Mel Davis, Hammond B3 Organist Extraordinaire, has understood the power of his hands to transport the sound of instruments from his imagination to a concert hall or nightclub full of eager twitching bodies for all of his life, dating back to childhood.

The Hammond’s big band grooves, thanks to masters and club mentors such as George Benson, Larry Young, Jr., Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff and Dr. Lonnie Smith, worked their way into Davis’ DNA. Eventually his hands were walking and talking good music. But 24 years ago, Davis lost the ability to play with his hands. Caught in the motorized belt of a fast-moving container-making machine where he worked to supplement