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A Good Jimmy Smith Starter CD

Scooter | Southern California | 07/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Time: 1964



The Place: Englewood Cliffs, NJ



The Personnel: Jimmy Smith, Hammond B-3 Organ, Kenny Burrell, Guitar, Donald Bailey, Drums, and Percy France on Sax.



For about a week in late 1964, these four men made musical history. This wasn't the best of Jimmy Smith's lineups (he had Stanley Turrentine, Grady Tate, and others), but there are two terrific songs on this CD.



The first is Messin' Around, a shuffle blues thing with a nice bluesy feel. But the highlight of the CD is "Gracie" which ends with one of the more unique fade outs I've ever heard, which was part manual (musicians playing softer) and part electronic, with Rudy Van Gelder lowering the volume, while Jimmy Smith plays this riff ever and ever quieter.



"

Superb and groovin'

S J Buck | Kent, UK | 08/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This classic Blue Note album from the master of the Hammond Organ Jimmy Smith was recorded in May 1959. With Smith are Donald Bailey on Drums, Percy France on Tenor Saxophone and Kenny Burrell Guitar. What you may have noticed is there is no bass player. The reason for that is that Jimmy Smith plays the bass lines on the Organ pedals, a talent normally associated with the Church Organ.



The whole album is embued with the blues from the very first track, a slow and loping version of 'See See Rider'. A superb version of Ray Charles 'I Got a Woman' continues the blues feel. Both Burrell and Smith have lovely solos. This is the kind of infectious Jazz that should really be more popular than it is. A memorable tune and a groove that even the most ardent Jazz hater would be hard-pushed to dislike. The album has a number of bonus tracks that make the re-issue even more essential than the original album. My favourite is 'Since I Fell For You' another swinging and bluesy track that has a marvellous solo by Burrell.



Mention should also be made of the fantastic album cover. Many of the Blue Note covers were works of art in there own right and this is one the best.



Jimmy Smith produced a number of classic Blue Note albums and they don't come much better than this one.

"

Cookin!

White boy 023 | australia | 12/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are into Jimmy Smith, you will own this one...no doubt. If you are teetering on the edge, i rekon the fact it has Kenny Burrell on guitar should get it over the line! This comes from a period where Jimmy recorded some of his finest music, it is early and it is cooking! smooth, small band, soul jazz...the way we like it."