Master class in blues by Smith!
Terje Biringvad | Oslo, Norway | 04/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"1972 was a particular creative and successful year at Verve for Jimmy Smith, recording both the critically acclaimed "Bluesmith" and "Root Down" albums. The two 1972 albums presents the diametrical genius of Smith - "Root Down" down the ultra funky path with Crusaders alumnis and the laid back down to earth blues in "Bluesmith". In a year and one more album, Smith left Verve in 1973 to pursue his career with different record companies.
With "Bluesmith!", Jimmy Smith is not only at home, but down home with five basic blues originals from the organist himself and one tribute to Wes Montogomery by Harvey Siders. So with no "The Cat", "The Preacher", "Organ Grinders Swing" and alike, make "Bluesmith" refreshingly new and a surprisingly laid back straight ahead session. Like "Root Down", Smith is support by musicians that he has never recorded with before - Teddy Edwards on tenor, guitarist Ray Crawford, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, drummer Donald Dean, and the congas of Victor Pantoja. "Straight Ahead" set the expectations for the album and you know what's coming the next 40 minutes - great interplay between the musicians and Smith must have been smiling throughout the time in the recording studio and delivers some of his best blues chords and choruses is a long time. The only tune that slightly changes the blues concept on the album is the latin inspired "Lolita" where Edwards shines throughout enjoying choruses. Ray Crawford is a true and underrated soul jazz guitarist and make a perfect partner for Smith is this format (Crawford will partner with Smith on his two album on Mojo Records in 1974/75 - not available on CD). There always a discussion adding a double bass player to the jazz organ format, but Leroy Vinnegar's walking "bam-de-bop-bam-de-bop-boo-boo" lines is just a perfect combination to Smith when he lays down the fat blues chords and chorus lines.
Jimmy Smith fans have to face the fact that Verve has ended the reissue program for their Jimmy Smith discography on CD format. Thanks to Lilith Records and alikes that leases master tapes to reissues, we have eventually got "Bluesmith" on CD - 24 years after the introduction of the CD format. Shame on you Verve!
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Track Listings (6) - Disc #1