Shawn Pfaffman is a soul-jazz powerhouse—a Hammond organist, pianist, vocalist, and songwriter whose music radiates truth, grit, and deep groove. Blending the raw storytelling of blues, the improvisational spirit of jazz, and the emotional weight of Southern soul, Shawn creates music that doesn’t just entertain—it moves people.

 

A lifelong musician with over 40 years on the keys, Shawn’s style is equal parts church and street, rooted in the traditions of Ray Charles, Billy Preston, and Dr. Lonnie Smith, but entirely his own. Whether behind the Hammond organ or at the piano, his playing is fearless and expressive, and his vocals—gravelly, honest, and vulnerable—cut straight to the bone.

 

His original compositions, like the high octane instrumental “Junk Train” and the cinematic “La Flor Dominicana,” reveal a deeply personal voice—one shaped by lived experience and a relentless devotion to the craft. In 2023, jazz legend Doug Carn called him a “Bad Motherf***er,” and that moment crystallized what many audiences already knew: Shawn Pfaffman is the real deal.

 

He’s a favorite at clubs, festivals, and intimate listening rooms alike—places where honesty matters more than polish. Whether solo or with his Organ Troupe, Shawn brings heart, heat, and soul to every stage he touches.

 

More than a musician, Shawn is a truth-teller with a groove—unapologetically real, undeniably gifted, and impossible to ignore.