OLIVER NELSON — The Argo, Verve And Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions (2006) RM | 6xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson was one of the more distinctive arrangers to be active in jazz, the studios, and popular music of the '60s. While most Nelson reissues focus on his always-excellent saxophone playing (whether on tenor or alto), this six-CD set, Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions, focuses on Oliver Nelson the arranger-composer-bandleader. He does take solos on some of these dates on tenor, alto,and soprano (his only recorded solos on that instrument), but it his writing that takes center stage. Included are his albums Full Nelson, Fantabulous, Jazzhattan Suite (which finds the ensemble called the Jazz Interactions Orchestra), Sound Pieces, and his unusual and reverent tribute set Musical Tribute to JFK: The Kennedy Dream. In addition, Nelson's writing for Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz All Stars is here, plus his contributions (usually just part of each record) for sets by organist Shirley Scott (Roll 'Em), a group co-led by Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, and clarinetist Pee Wee Russell (The Spirit of '67). Topping off this well-conceived box are all of the music for organist Jimmy Smith's Hobo Flats, Peter and the Wolf (a classic jazz version), and Smith's first collaboration with guitarist Wes Montgomery, plus a few numbers from Smith's Bashin', Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and Hootchie Coochie Man. In addition to the playing of Jimmy Smith (who was really at his peak during this period), Wes Montgomery, Shirley Scott, and Pee Wee Russell, the most memorable soloists are altoist Phil Woods, cornetist Nat Adderley (on the Feather date), and flugelhornist Clark Terry plus Nelson himself. There is plenty of classic material here (such as the Smith/Montgomery blues jamming on "Down by the Riverside") which, even when the big-band writing is secondary, serves as a superior tribute to the underrated Oliver Nelson. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

JIMMY SMITH - The Incredible Jimmy Smith at Club Baby Grand, Vol. 1 (1956-2008) MONO / RVG Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Playing piano-style single-note lines on his Hammond B-3 organ, Jimmy Smith revolutionized the use of the instrument in a jazz combo setting in the mid-'50s and early '60s, and he was still the next big thing on the block when he recorded two LP volumes live over the course of two afternoon sets and three evening sets on August 4, 1956, at Club Baby Grand in Wilmington, DE. Smith had already tracked three successful studio LPs for Blue Note Records at sessions held earlier in the year in February, March, and June, and the time seemed right to present him in a concert setting where the full whirlwind force of his speedy playing could be best appreciated. Working with guitarist Thornel Schwartz and his longtime drummer Donald Bailey (who worked with Smith throughout his Blue Note years), Smith is 90 percent of the show here, bursting out with amazing rapid runs on the B-3, filling the air from one end of the room to the other as only he could. This first volume is drawn from the three evening sets, opening with what was actually the last selection of the night, a zippy, headlong version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and highlighted by a nearly 12-minute version of Horace Silver's "The Preacher," a piece Smith has already made his own. It's all Jimmy Smith in full flight, bubbling over with cascading notes and breathless detours, and if his studio work is generally more structured and considered (but only a little more so), this set shows him in what was his natural habitat, astounding an audience in a small club. Bailey keeps up with things and Schwartz gets a word in now and then, but this is Smith's show all the way. by Steve Leggett  
Tracklist :
1    Introduction by Mitch Thomas    0:59
2    Sweet Georgia Brown 9:33
Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
3    Where or When 9:17
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4    The Preacher 11:55
Horace Silver
5    Rosetta 10:08
Earl Hines / Henri Woode
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Thornel Schwartz
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder

JIMMY SMITH - The Incredible Jimmy Smith at Club Baby Grand, Vol. 2 (1956-2008) MONO / RVG Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Playing piano-style single-note lines on his Hammond B-3 organ, Jimmy Smith revolutionized the use of the instrument in a jazz combo setting in the mid-'50s and early '60s, and he was still the next big thing on the block when he recorded two LP volumes live over the course of two afternoon sets and three evening sets on August 4, 1956, at Club Baby Grand in Wilmington, DE. Smith had already tracked three successful studio LPs for Blue Note Records at sessions held earlier in the year in February, March, and June, and the time seemed right to present him in a concert setting where the full whirlwind force of his speedy playing could be best appreciated. Working with guitarist Thornel Schwartz and his longtime drummer Donald Bailey (who worked with Smith throughout his Blue Note years), Smith is 90 percent of the show here, bursting out with amazing rapid runs on the B-3, filling the air from one end of the room to the other as only he could. This second volume draws three of its four tracks from the second afternoon set ("Get Happy" is from the last set of the evening show) and is highlighted by the opening track, a ten-plus-minute version of Duke Ellington's "Caravan" that turns on Schwartz's fine guitar leads. Otherwise, it's all Jimmy Smith, who careens, bolts, stutters, glides, and flashes notes all over the place at a frequently breathless pace, and if Smith's studio work is generally more structured, arranged, and considered (but only a little more so), this set shows him in what was his natural habitat, astounding an audience in a small club. by Steve Leggett  
Tracklist :
1    Caravan 10:18
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
2    Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 10:46
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster
3    Get Happy 7:27
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
4    It's Alright with Me 11:53
Cole Porter
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Thornel Schwartz
Organ – Jimmy Smith

JIMMY SMITH - Groovin' At Smalls' Paradise Vol. 1 & 2 (1957-1999) RVG Edition / 2CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Groovin' at Smalls' Paradise is a live album by American jazz organist Jimmy Smith featuring performances recorded at Smalls' Paradise in New York City in 1957 and originally released in two volumes on the Blue Note label. The album was rereleased as a double CD with four bonus tracks recorded at the same performance.
Tracklist 1 :
1. Imagination 7:52
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
2. Walkin' 11:38
Written By – Richard Carpenter / Jimmy Mundy
3. My Funny Valentine 11:02
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
4. It's Only a Paper Moon 10:24
Written-By – Rose, Harburg, Arlen
5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love 6:58
Written-By – Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields
6. Laura 10:26
Written-By – D. Raksin, J. Mercer
Tracklist 2 :
1. Indiana 15:40
Written-By – B. MacDonald, J. Hanely
2. Body and Soul 10:03
Written-By – Heyman, Eyton, Green, Sour
3. The Champ 13:47
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
4. Lover Man 7:28
Written-By – Davis, Sherman, Ramirez
5. Slightly Monkish 6:59
Written-By – Jimmy Smith
6. After Hours 10:58
Written-By – Avery Parrish
7. Just Friends 6:27
Written-By – J. Klenner, S. Lewis
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Eddie McFadden
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Recorded, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder 

‎JIMMY SMITH — Lonesome Road (1957-1996) Serie The BN Works 1500 Unissued | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jimmy Smith recorded for Blue Note so frequently during the late '50s that many of his sessions remained unreleased for years. The music that comprises Lonesome Road sat in the vaults for years, until the Japanese division of Blue Note released the album in the '80s. Since Smith had so many albums on the market, it's understandable that Blue Note wanted to limit the number of records they released from him, but the music on Lonesome Road is almost as fine as that on The Sermon or Groovin' at Small's Paradise. Smith, guitarist Eddie McFadden and drummer Donald Bailey play a selection of eight standards, but the songs don't sound stale; they sound fresh and alive. A few of the ballads are a little slow and treacly, but many of the numbers cook, with a couple of the songs featuring Smith at his hottest. It doesn't have the mastery he would later demonstrate on Back at the Chicken Shack, nor is it quite as consistent as The Sermon, but Lonesome Road is worthwhile for any fan of Smith. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    Margie 5:51    
B. Davis, C. Conrad, J.R. Robinson   
2    Lonesome Road 4:49    
G. Austin, N. Shildret    
3    I Want a Little Girl 5:14
Murray Mencher
4    Diane 6:25
E. Rapee, L. Pollack    
5    Blue Lou 3:51
E. Sampson    
6    Our Love Is Here to Stay 5:41
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7    Danny Boy 7:24
F. Weatherly    
8    Takin' a Chance on Love 4:40
J. Latouche, T. Fetter, V. Duke
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Eddie McFadden
Organ – Jimmy Smith

JIMMY SMITH - The Sermon! (1958-2000) RVG Edition / APE (image+.cue), lossless

When Jimmy Smith exploded onto the jazz scene in 1956, he changed everything about the way the organ was used and perceived in jazz. His first two years of recording were mind-bogglingly prolific, producing 13 albums. Three marathon jam sessions during this period produced some of his finest early work, including The Sermon! Smith displays both a youthful fire and a musical wisdom beyond his years throughout the album. Whether blazing through hard bop tunes like "Confirmation" and "Au Privave" (both Charlie Parker compositions) or gently caressing the ballad "Lover Man," Smith constantly proves himself the most inventive organist of the bop generation. In moving beyond the classic organ trio format, Smith takes the organ into new areas, and trading solos with the likes of Lee Morgan and Lou Donaldson, he makes it plain that his is an individual voice worthy of its eventual place in the jazz canon. A special treat here is the tenor work of the great, underrated Tina Brooks. by AllMusic
Tracklist :
1    The Sermon 20:12
Jimmy Smith
2    J.O.S. 11:56
Jimmy Smith
3    Flamingo 8:02
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – George Coleman, Lou Donaldson
Drums – Art Blakey, Donald Bailey
Guitar – Eddie McFadden, Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Recorded, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Tina Brooks
Trumpet – Lee Morgan 

JIMMY SMITH - Cool Blues (1958-2005) RM / BNLT 999 – 21 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Proof that at his start, Jimmy Smith had a greatness that knew no bounds – as the album's one of a few that Blue Note recorded in the late 50s, but never issued until many years later – even though they had already released so many amazing records from this period! The set has Jimmy really cooking away – playing live at Small's Paradise, in a group that has Lou Donaldson's alto on just about every track, and tenor from Tina Brooks on most of the others too. Tunes are tighter and shorter than on the more jam session albums, which makes for a nice change – and titles include "Groovin At Smalls", "Dark Eyes", "Cool Blues", and "A Night In Tunisia" – which begins with an announcement from Babs Gonzales! 8 tracks in all – 4 more than on the 1980 album – with better sound than before as well!
Tracklist :
1    Groovin' At Small's 11:54
Written-By – Babs Gonzales
2    Dark Eyes 11:29
Traditional
3    Cool Blues 11:02
Written-By – Charlie Parker
4    Announcement By Babs Gonzales    0:26
5    A Night In Tunisia 16:50
Written-By – D. Gillespie, F. Paparelli
6    What's New 6:34
Written-By – B. Haggart, J. Burke
7    Small's Minor 7:00
Written-By – Jimmy Smith
8    Once In A While 6:58
Written-By – B. Green, M. Edwards
Credits :
Lou Donaldson - Alto Sax
Tina Brooks - Tenor Sax
Jimmy Smith - Organ
Eddie McFadden - Guitar
Art Blakey - Drums
Donald Bailey - Drums 

THE INCREDIBLE JIMMY SMITH - Home Cookin' (1959-2005) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Hammond organ mastery of Jimmy Smith is arguably nowhere as profound as on 1959's Home Cookin'. Support is provided by the formidable trio of drummer Donald Bailey, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and tenor Percy France. Here they couple a few understated cool R&B classics with their own originals. The almost dirge-like cadence of "See See Rider" is given a bluesy and low-key workout, featuring tasty interaction between Smith and Burrell. The languid pace churns steadily as they trade off impressive solos with almost palpable empathy. Burrell's "Sugar Hill" swings with a refined post-bop attack. His call-and-response with Smith conjures the pair's trademark give and take, which is assuredly one of the reasons the two maintained a five-plus-decade association. Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman" is nothing short of definitive as the upbeat rhythm immediately propels Smith and Burrell into an otherwise unassuming and practically infectious bounce. Also duly noted is the sturdy backing of Bailey, whose discerning and compact snare is impeccably suited to the arrangement. (Sadly, the track fades just as the band begin to really get loose.) "Messin' Around" and "Gracie" bring France on board, adding a subtle reedy texture to Smith's intricate and advanced melodies. "Come on Baby" is another Burrell composition that slinks with a soulful mid-tempo groove, allowing for some inspired soloing. The title perfectly captures the travelogue nature, proving that getting there is indeed half the fun. Jimmy Smith's voluminous catalog is remarkably solid throughout and Home Cookin' is a recommended starting place for burgeoning enthusiasts as well as a substantial entry for the initiated. [Some reissues add five additional cuts, including an alternate take of "Motorin' Along," two readings of the pop standard "Since I Fell for You" and an impressive cover of Jack McDuff's "Groanin'."] by Lindsay Planer  
Tracklist :
1     See See Rider 6:32
Ma Rainey
2     Sugar Hill 5:19
Kenny Burrell
3     I Got a Woman 3:52
Ray Charles / Renald Richard
4     Messin' Around 5:54
Jimmy Smith
5     Gracie 5:51
Jimmy Smith
6     Come on Baby 6:48
Kenny Burrell
7     Motorin' Along 5:05
Jimmy McGriff
8     Since I Fell for You 4:16
Buddy Johnson
9     Apostrophe 6:32
Percy France
10     Groanin' 8:07
Jimmy Smith
11     Motorin' Along 5:00
Jimmy McGriff
12     Since I Fell for You 6:15
Buddy Johnson
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Percy France (faixas: 1, 4, 5. 6) 

THE INCREDIBLE JIMMY SMITH - Back at the Chicken Shack (1960-2007) RVG Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Back at the Chicken Shack is one of organist Jimmy Smith's classic Blue Note sessions, and the first to draw attention to tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Recorded in 1960 with Kenny Burrell on guitar, Donald Bailey on drums, and Turrentine, the group reaches the peak of funky soul jazz that all other challengers of the genre would have to live up to. Included on this uptempo session is a reworking of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" (a feature for Turrentine), Turrentine's "Minor Chant," two Smith compositions, "Messy Bessie" as well as the set's notable title cut. Smith's Midnight Special album was recorded at these same sessions, and is also exceptional. [Some reissues add a bonus track, "On the Sunny Side of the Street."]  by Al Campbell
Tracklist :
1 Back at the Chicken Shack 8:01
Jimmy Smith
2 When I Grow Too Old to Dream 9:54
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
3 Minor Chant 7:30
Stanley Turrentine
4 Messy Bessie 12:25
Jimmy Smith
5 On the Sunny Side of the Street 5:45
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine

THE INCREDIBLE JIMMY SMITH - Crazy! Baby (1960-1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This excellent LP features Jimmy Smith's working group of the period, a trio with guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Donald Bailey. The organist's version of the opening number, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," was a hit, and just as memorable are Smith's renditions of "Makin' Whoopee," "Sonnymoon for Two," and "Mack the Knife." A fine example of Smith's talents. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     When Johnny Comes Marching Home 7:58
Traditional
2     Makin' Whoopee 4:57
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn
3     A Night in Tunisia 5:40
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
4     Sonnymoon for Two 7:15
Sonny Rollins
5     Mack the Knife 4:58
Marc Blitzstein / Bertolt Brecht / Kurt Weill
6     What's New? 3:50
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
7     Alfredo 4:30
Jimmy Smith
8     If I Should Lose You 6:26
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
9     When Lights Are Low 5:38
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Quentin Warren
Organ – Jimmy Smith 

THE INCREDIBLE JIMMY SMITH - Midnight Special (1960-2007) RVG Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Midnight Special is a perfect complement to Back at the Chicken Shack, which was recorded the same day. Organist Jimmy Smith, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, and guitarist Kenny Burrell always make for a potent team, and with drummer Donald Bailey completing the group, the quartet digs soulfully into such numbers as the groovin' "Midnight Special," "Jumpin' the Blues," and "One O'Clock Jump." Highly recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Midnight Special 9:52
Jimmy Smith
2    A Subtle One 7:38
Stanley Turrentine
3    Jumpin' the Blues 5:23
Walter Brown / Jay McShann / Charlie Parker
4    Why Was I Born? 6:30
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
5    One O'Clock Jump 6:56
Count Basie
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine

JIMMY SMITH - Jimmy Smith Plays Fats Waller (1962-2008) RVG Edition / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Playing piano-style single-note lines on his Hammond B-3 organ, Jimmy Smith revolutionized the use of the instrument in a jazz combo setting in the mid-'50s and early '60s, and this piano approach makes him a natural to adapt the piano tunes associated with Fats Waller to the B-3, which is what he did at the January 23, 1962, session that is represented here (Waller, by the way, was no stranger to the organ himself, and recorded several sides on the instrument). Working with guitarist Quentin Warren and his longtime drummer Donald Bailey (who worked with Smith throughout his Blue Note years), Smith brings his amazing rapid runs to Waller standards "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose," and gives "Ain't She Sweet" a wonderfully warm and soulful groove. It's fairly typical Smith, who careens, bolts, stutters, glides, and flashes notes all over the place at a frequently breathless pace, doing what he always does, which is being Jimmy Smith at the organ. That's what you want, and that's what you get here. by Steve Leggett
Tracklist :
1     Everybody Loves My Baby 3:47     
Written-By – J. Palmer, S. Williams
2     Squeeze Me 5:31
Written-By – C. Williams, F. Waller
3     Ain't She Sweet 3:37
Written-By – J. Yellen, M. Ager    
4     Ain't Misbehavin' 3:44
Written-By – Razaf, Brooks, Waller    
5     Lulu's Back in Town 5:16
Written-By – A. Dubin, H. Warren    
6     Honeysuckle Rose 6:57
Written-By – A. Razaf, F. Waller    
7     I've Found a New Baby 6:03
Written-By – A. Razaf, F. Waller    
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Quentin Warren
Organ [Hammond] – Jimmy Smith
Recorded By, Remastered By [2008] – Rudy Van Gelder

 

JIMMY SMITH - Bucket! (1963-2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded the first day of February in 1963, but not released for a few years, Bucket! is a fairly typical Jimmy Smith session, featuring the organist running through a selection of originals and standards with guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Donald Bailey in tow. The vibe is relaxed, not too laid-back but hardly energetic, as the trio easily strolls through bluesy ballads and lightly swinging soulful ballads. It's damning with faint praise to say that nothing exceptional ever happens but it doesn't need to happen, but that is truly the case here. Bucket! is simply a middle-of-the-road affair, not quite boring but never quite compelling either. It's good easy listening music, finding an organ master kicking out seven tunes without any pressure and with a minimal sense of style. That makes for a pretty good record, one that hardcore fans will find satisfying after they've exhausted the greater Smith sessions, but not one that will captivate the attentions of anyone who isn't a dyed-in-the-wool Jimmy Smith aficionado. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Bucket 4:43
Jimmy Smith
2     Careless Love 3:53
W.C. Handy / Martha E. Koenig / Spencer Williams
3     3 for 4 4:49
Jimmy Smith
4     Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 5:44
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines
5     Sassy Mae 4:20
Jimmy Smith
6     Come Rain or Come Shine 5:47
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
7     John Brown's Body 6:21
Traditional
8     Trouble in Mind 5:39
Richard M. Jones
9     Sassy Mae 3:52
Jimmy Smith
Credits :
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – Quentin Warren
Organ – Jimmy Smith

JIMMY SMITH - Organ Grinder Swing (1965-2000) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Most of organist Jimmy Smith's recordings for Verve during the mid- to late '60s were with big bands, making this trio outing with guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Grady Tate a special treat. This outing is a throwback to Smith's Blue Note sets (which had concluded two years earlier) and gives the organist the opportunity to stretch out on three blues and three standards. This release shows that, even with all of his commercial success during the period, Smith was always a masterful jazz player. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Organ Grinder's Swing    2:12
Will Hudson / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
2    Oh, No, Babe    8:59
Jimmy Smith
3    Blues For J    5:14
Jimmy Smith
4    Greensleeves    8:51
Traditional
5    I'll Close My Eyes    3:17
Buddy Kaye / Billy Reid / William "Billy" Reid
6    Satin Doll    7:01
Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer / Billy Strayhorn
Credits :
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith

JIMMY SMITH - Peter and the Wolf (1966-1999) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Of all of organist Jimmy Smith's big-band albums recorded for Verve, this is one of the most imaginative ones. Oliver Nelson arranged a variety of themes from Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf into a swinging suite featuring the great organist Jimmy Smith. Although there is no verbal narrative on this LP, Nelson's liner notes tell the story (which can actually be followed through the music) and Smith pays respect to the original melodies while making strong statements of his own. A classic of its kind. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
The Bird / The Duck / The Cat / The Grandfather / The Wolf / The Hunter / Peter    4:09
1a    The Bird   
1b    The Duck   
1c    The Cat   
1d    The Grandfather   
1e    The Wolf   
1f    The Hunter   
1g    Peter   
Duck Theme / Jimmy And The Duck / Peter's Theme / Meal Time    9:39
2a    Duck Theme   
2b    Jimmy And The Duck   
2c    Peter's Theme   
2d    Meal Time   
3    Elegy For A Duck    7:16
4    Cat In A Tree    5:21
5    Capture Of The Wolf    1:14
Finale / Parade / Peter Plays Some Blues    4:45
6a    Finale   
6b    Parade   
6c    Peter Plays Some Blues
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor, Liner Notes – Oliver Nelson
Bass – Richard Davis
Composed By – Serge Prokofiev (tracks: 1)
Drums – Grady Tate
Drums, Percussion – Bobby Rosengarden, Harry Breuer
French Horn – Jimmy Buffington, Willie Ruff
Guitar – Barry Galbraith, Billy Butler
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Trombone – Britt Woodman, Quentin L. Jackson, Dick Hixson, Tom McIntosh, Tony Studd
Trumpet – Ernie Royal, Snooky Young, Joe Newman, Richard Williams
Woodwind – Danny Bank, Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Phil Woods, Bob Ashton, Stan Webb
Written-By – Oliver Nelson (tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

JIMMY SMITH - Stay Loose (1968-2005) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Jimmy Smith, of course, was known mostly for his Hammond B3 organ skills, where his fingers skittered over the keys with piano-like speed, and his bluesy, soulful approach to jazz, which bordered on light funk at times. There is plenty of all of that on Stay Loose...Jimmy Smith Sings Again, and yes, as advertised, he sings, which really wasn't all that unusual, just that he did it more here than he normally did. Smith had a wonderful voice, gruff and full of gravel, but also full of wry amusement and a whole lot of joy, and his vocal adaptation of "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" which kicks off this set (backed by a trumpet and trombone horn section) may well be the definitive version of this old blues standard. He comes close to repeating the trick on "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," a pop hit from the 1940s. Elsewhere he mostly groans and hums in the background, which gives everything here a kind of gospel-blues feel. Other standout tracks include the title jam, "Stay Loose," which is wonderfully funky (a remix of "Stay Loose" by Lyrics Born, funked up even more, was the centerpiece for Verve Remixed 3), and a similarly loose and soulful take on Don Covay's "Chain of Fools," a hit in 1968 for Aretha Franklin. Grady Tate shines on drums throughout Stay Loose, and Stanley Turrentine's bluesy tenor sax gives two of the instrumentals, "One for Members" and "Grabbin' Hold" a nice lift. Stay Loose isn't a typical Jimmy Smith album, but it isn't radically different, either, and it belongs on a short list of the best he ever recorded. by Steve Leggett  
Tracklist :
1    I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town 4:44
Louis Jordan / Andy Razaf / Will Weldon
2    Stay Loose 3:55
Jimmy Smith
3    If You Ain't Got It 3:07
Tom McIntosh
4    One for Members 6:47
Jimmy Smith
5    Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? 3:32
Bill Austin / Louis Jordan
6    Chain of Fools 5:02
Don Covay
7    Grabbin' Hold 9:41
Jimmy Smith / Stanley Turrentine
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor – Tom McIntosh (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Bass – James Tyrell (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Jimmy Merritt (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Carl Lynch (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Phil Upchurch (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Percussion – Johnny Pacheco (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Reeds – Hubert Laws (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Jerome Richardson (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Joe Farrell (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Pepper Adams (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
Trombone – Alan Raph (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Garnet Brown (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Trumpet – Ernie Royal (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Joe Newman (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Snookie Young (tracks: 1, 3, 5)
Vocals – Carline Ray (tracks: 2, 6), Eileen Gilbert (tracks: 2, 6), Jimmy Smith, (tracks: 1, 3, 5), Melba Moorman (tracks: 2, 6) 

JIMMY SMITH - Bluesmith (1972-2006) APE (image+.cue), lossless

It is ironic that one of Jimmy Smith's best Verve releases would be his next-to-last for the label. This surprisingly freewheeling but relaxed jam session also features Teddy Edwards on tenor, guitarist Ray Crawford, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, drummer Donald Dean, and the congas of Victor Pantoja. Together they perform five of Smith's fairly basic originals and Harvey Siders's "Mournin' Wes," a tribute for Wes Montgomery. Fine straight-ahead music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Straight Ahead 5:25
Oliver Nelson / Jimmy Smith
2    Absolutely Funky 9:12
Jimmy Smith
3    Lolita 6:23
Jimmy Smith
4    Mournin' Wes 10:00
Harvey Siders
5    Blues for 3+1 4:52
Jimmy Smith
6    Bluesmith 6:41
Jimmy Smith
Credits :
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Congas – Victor Pantoja (tracks: 3, 5)
Drums – Donald Dean
Guitar – Ray Crawford (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Teddy Edwards (tracks: 1 to 4, 6) 

JIMMY SMITH - Root Down (1972-2000) / RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Toward the end of his stint with Blue Note, Jimmy Smith's albums became predictable. Moving to Verve in the mid-'60s helped matters considerably, since he started playing with new musicians (most notably nice duets with Wes Montgomery) and new settings, but he never really got loose, as he did on select early Blue Note sessions. Part of the problem was that Smith's soul-jazz was organic and laid-back, relaxed and funky instead of down and dirty. For latter-day listeners, aware of his reputation as the godfather of modern soul-jazz organ (and certainly aware of the Beastie Boys' name drop), that may mean that Smith's actual albums all seem a bit tame and restrained, classy, not funky. That's true of the bulk of Smith's catalog, with the notable exception of Root Down. Not coincidentally, the title track is the song the Beasties sampled on their 1994 song of the same name, since this is one of the only sessions that Smith cut where his playing his raw, vital, and earthy. Recorded live in Los Angeles in February 1972, the album captures a performance Smith gave with a relatively young supporting band who were clearly influenced by modern funk and rock. They push Smith to playing low-down grooves that truly cook: "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow" and "Root Down (And Get It)" are among the hottest tracks he ever cut, especially in the restored full-length versions showcased on the 2000 Verve By Request reissue. There are times where the pace slows, but the tension never sags, and the result is one of the finest, most exciting records in Smith's catalog. If you think you know everything about Jimmy Smith, this is the album for you. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1 Sagg Shootin' His Arrow 7:09
Jimmy Smith
2 For Everyone Under the Sun 5:56
Peter Chase
3 After Hours 7:45
Erskine Hawkins / Avery Parrish
4 Root Down (And Get It) 7:44
Jimmy Smith
5 Let's Stay Together 6:30
Al Green / Al Jackson, Jr. / Willie Mitchell
6 Slow Down Sagg 6:43
Jimmy Smith
Credits :
Bass – Wilton Felder
Congas, Percussion – Buck Clarke
Drums – Paul Humphrey
Guitar – Arthur Adams
Harmonica – Steve Williams
Organ – Jimmy Smith

JIMMY SMITH / EDDIE HARRIS - All the Way Live (1981-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Strange as it seems, organist Jimmy Smith and tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris have to this date only played together once. Their recorded collaboration at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in 1981 has recently been released for the first time by Milestone on All the Way Live. Harris (who utilizes an electrified tenor) and Smith (along with drummer Kenny Dixon) jam a couple of blues, the funky "8 Counts for Rita" (which has some audience participation) and three familiar standards. The recording quality is not state-of-the-art but is certainly listenable and the high level of the playing overcomes any technical deficiencies. Essentially a hard bop stylist, Eddie Harris's brilliance and originality are sometimes hidden under his innovative use of electronics but he has long had his own sound while Jimmy Smith is the originator of his very influential style. Highlights of the date include "Autumn Leaves," "A Child Is Born" and "Old Folks" and this live set easily surpasses Smith and Harris's studio recordings of the time period. A reunion is long overdue. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You'll See 11:33
Jimmy Smith
2     Autumn Leaves 11:41
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
3     A Child Is Born 9:07
Thad Jones
4     8 Counts for Rita 5:50
Jimmy Smith
5     Old Folks 10:35
Dedette Lee Hill / Willard Robison
6     The Sermon 9:21
Jimmy Smith
Credits :
Drums – Kenny Dixon
Organ, MC – Jimmy Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Harris

 

JIMMY SMITH - Go for Whatcha' Know (1986-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

23 years after leaving the label, organist Jimmy Smith returned to the Blue Note label. In addition to signing up two of his old associates who had been with him on many classic Blue Note albums of the past (guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine), Smith uses such fine players as guest pianist Monty Alexander (on two songs), bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Grady Tate (who takes a warm ballad vocal on "She's Out of My Life"). "Fungii Mama" and "Go for Whatcha Know" are the highlights of this enjoyable LP. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Fungii Mama 4:54
Blue Mitchell
2    (Mama Said) Go For Whatcha Know 7:03
Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Smith
3    Bass Face 5:25
Kenny Burrell
4    She's Out of My Life 6:26
Tom Bahler
5    We Can Make It Work 6:49
Jimmy Smith
6    No Substitute 5:45
Jimmy Smith
Credits :
Drums – Grady Tate (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6)
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine