The Jim Payne Organ Duo works because of personality and ability.

The reasons musicians come together are usually, well, musical – similar interests, playing styles, writing styles. But that’s not the case with the Jim Payne Organ Duo.

Drummer Payne and organist Eddie Mendenhall met five years ago when they were traveling teachers visiting schools as part of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s educational outreach programs.

“He was an amazing pianist back then,” Payne says. “He expressed a desire to play the organ and I had always wanted to do a duo with an organist. But the real reason Eddie and I came together was our personalities. We got along so well, not just musically but as people, as well. That’s rare.”

The duo’s work now shows as much musical empathy as personal chemistry.

“Both of us list Elvin Jones as our favorite drummer,” Payne says. “So Eddie is very able to understand the rhythmic structures I lay down. We have a lot of mutual musical respect for one another and we give one another a lot of space. He just overlays his harmonies and melodies right on top of my rhythms.”

Payne is known worldwide as a pre-eminent R&B-funk drummer, so much so that Jazz Times Magazine once called him “… the Buddy Rich or Bill Cobham of funk drumming.” Payne has enjoyed a long and varied career not only as a drummer and educator, but also as a record producer and collaborator with many of the best musicians in both jazz, R&B and funk. He’s excited about his work with Mendenhall.

“With the piano, you can only do jazz, blues and R&B stuff,” Payne says. “But with Eddie moving to organ, we can do much more than just that. It opens up many new and exciting possibilities.”

JIM PAYNE ORGAN DUO 4:30-7:30 Thursday, June 14. Folktale Winery & Vineyards, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. No cover. 293-7500, folktalewinery.com