Matthew Posted December 8, 2003 Report Posted December 8, 2003 (edited) Just wanted to be the first, after b3-er, to wish the great Jimmy Smith happy birthday. I'm sure it's December 8, somewhere in the world now. Edited December 8, 2003 by Matthew Quote
Matthew Posted December 8, 2003 Author Report Posted December 8, 2003 Jimmy Smith, for me, has been one of those artists that I never seem to tire of; he's just made quality music throughout his life. I find his earliest years on Blue Note his most interesting because to have the quality of wide open horizens to them. Smith was not just the "groove master" of records like "Back at the Chicken Shack" and "Midnight Special". No, his early stuff had a sense of the possible to them, that the organ, as an instrument, was something the he was just discovering, that's what makes them unique in the annuals of organ recordings. He did solo cuts, was not afraid of sounding "corny" and sentimental, and played wild bop on them also. Clearly, one of his models was Bud Powell, and that heard best on "Live at the Baby Grand", both volumes contain some of the wildest and most creative keyboard playing ever put on record. You have something like "Baby Grand" and then Smith puts out an amazing record like "Plays Fats Waller", and you wonder: "Did the same person make both these records?" Yes, he did, which was and is part of his genuis -- not being afraid to let the organ sound old fashioned. Well, I could go on forever about this guy but I'll stop right now and go listen to some Smith magic. Quote
Bright Moments Posted December 8, 2003 Report Posted December 8, 2003 he's the greatest! i'll listen to his "dot com blues" today in his honor! B) Quote
CJ Shearn Posted December 8, 2003 Report Posted December 8, 2003 Jimmy still blows my mind even tho my appreciate of other organists has branched out. What not many people know is that his early playing, around 56-58 nwas very Coltrane influenced, and I've known cats who when I mention that it's like blasphemy to say. but it's true, Jimmy was doing sheets of sound on the organ. And then of course Larry Young took the freer elements of Trane's playing and ran with them later on. Jimmy will always remain one of my favs, and "The Sermon" w/o question probably my favorite record, period. I grew up on that, it was in my posession as soon as I could handle records when I was little. Quote
Matthew Posted December 8, 2003 Author Report Posted December 8, 2003 (edited) Edited December 9, 2003 by Matthew Quote
Matthew Posted December 8, 2003 Author Report Posted December 8, 2003 (edited) I just wanted my 500 post to be about my main man -- Jimmy Smith B) Edited December 8, 2003 by Matthew Quote
michel devos Posted December 8, 2003 Report Posted December 8, 2003 YES, great idea...Let me join to wish a happy birthday to the man who introduced me first to the Hammond... I still remember, 40 years later, my first Jimmy LP Crazy Baby, probably one of his best.Still listening to it today... Quote
Soulstation1 Posted December 8, 2003 Report Posted December 8, 2003 someone should write a book about jimmy smith. he is the king of the b-3 happy b-day jimmy. damn ss1 Quote
CJ Shearn Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 somebody get the picture with him using the Wersi outta here "The Cat Strikes Again" was an awful album, absolutely horrid. When he recorded that, just how long did he abandon the B-3? I can't think that it was for too long b/c he was back on the big B for "Off the Top" in '82 Quote
chris olivarez Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 Happy Birthday to Jimmy and many thanks for him bringing the B3 to the forefront.Wherever the great man is tonight I hope he's feeling better. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 somebody get the picture with him using the Wersi outta here "The Cat Strikes Again" was an awful album, absolutely horrid. When he recorded that, just how long did he abandon the B-3? I can't think that it was for too long b/c he was back on the big B for "Off the Top" in '82 Amen to that. Quote
CJ Shearn Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 the Wersi was a digital organ or something, right Jim? was it sort of like the Synclavier/ Fairlight of sampled organ at the time? Quote
Matthew Posted December 9, 2003 Author Report Posted December 9, 2003 somebody get the picture with him using the Wersi outta here "The Cat Strikes Again" was an awful album, absolutely horrid. When he recorded that, just how long did he abandon the B-3? I can't think that it was for too long b/c he was back on the big B for "Off the Top" in '82 Amen to that. O.K., I took it out but I want to add... Quote
Matthew Posted December 9, 2003 Author Report Posted December 9, 2003 (edited) Little known fact about Jimmy Smith. He was a great fan of "The Fonze", and Henry Winkler used to visit Smith's nightclub in L.A. Whenever someone ever heckled Bad Ass Jimmy Smith, he'd tell the sucker to "SIT ON IT!" Hey, Jimmy was a bad motha' like the Fonze! Edited December 9, 2003 by Matthew Quote
CJ Shearn Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 (edited) thanks Matthew. The Wersi ::cringe:: sounds thin as hell. I was saying to myself earlier that the company probably needed a famous organ player to endorse their crappy sounding organ and thought: HEEEEEEEEEY! why not get Jimmy Smith? We'll wow him out of that antiquated Hammond, hell it's not even produced anymore, so let's sell him on the benefits of our organ's great new sound Wersi: sounds just like a Hammond, after a testicular removal ok, I had my late night fun, really tired, it's tough the last week of classes before I have my finals. Edited December 9, 2003 by CJ Shearn Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 Jimmy Smith was the father of all B-3ers after him. Either people avoided his style or slavishly copied him; but his force had to be reckoned with inevitably. The only way not to be influence in some way was to just shut yourself off, like Soulstream tells us John Patton did. There was no one greater on the instrument. Quote
Soulstation1 Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 why did jimmy leave bn for verve? was it the $$$? Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 Not sure, but I believe he was fulfilling his Blue Note contract while recording with Verve at the same time. The guy was prolific for sure. I love many of Jimmy's Verve recordings like "The Cat" and "Organ Grinder's Blues" and "Hoochie Koochie Man," etc., and I feel that they are just as essential as his Blue Note stuff. (Well maybe not quite as essential.) How about those wonderful sessions he did later in life: "Master" and "Master II." Can't remember if they were Blue Note or Verve, but he was in terrific form along with Kenny Burrell. Quote
michel devos Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 Spot on...These sessions, though' not as well known as one would expect, are top notch Jimmy's trio, featuring Kenny Burrell and Jimmie Smith(!) dms.Both CD's were recorded 24-25 december 1993 in Osaka and feature the following program : Chittlins con carne It's allright with me Organ grinder swing The preacher All day long Got my mojo working When Johnny comes marchin home back at the chicken shack The cat Summertime Laura Mack the knife A child is born Stormy Monday On top of that, recording quality is excellent...A clear winner Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted December 9, 2003 Report Posted December 9, 2003 yeah baby...Happy F#*@in' Birthday as Jimmy might say! i've been listening to a comp of my favorite Verve tunes lately. it's a tasty piece o cake. can we start a thread for "Jimmy on Verve"? Quote
Jazz Groove Posted December 10, 2003 Report Posted December 10, 2003 Due you know if he is still doing live show? I heard he wasn't doing so well a few months back. Quote
Peter Johnson Posted December 10, 2003 Report Posted December 10, 2003 He's scheduled at Iridium in January! Quote
CJ Shearn Posted December 10, 2003 Report Posted December 10, 2003 cool, it's good to see that he'll be back playing. Those "Master" discs are very valuable because he's playing in a trio, which IMO shows his absolutely command of the instrument, and especially when backed by a favorite player like Burrell, shows his sensitivity to the musicians. Those records were recorded for Somethin' Else, BN's sister company. Does anyone know if Jimmy recorded more sessions in Japan at that time that have gone unreleased? I remember in a 1992 Stanley Turrentine article in Downbeat that it said he was involved in an engagement in Tokyo with Jimmy, Kenny and Grady Tate. Was this recorded? Another excellent example of late period live Jimmy are the two "Fourmost"" and "Fourmost Return" discs on Milestone. Quote
White Lightning Posted December 8, 2004 Report Posted December 8, 2004 Happy 79 B-day to the GROOOOOOOOVE Master Quote
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