Jimmy Smith ruled the Hammond organ in the '50s and '60s. He revolutionized the instrument, showing it could be creatively used in a jazz context and popularized in the process.
His Blue Note sessions from 1956 to 1963 were extremely influential and many, like 1960's Back at the Chicken Shack and 1958 's The Sermon, are classics. Smith turned the organ into almost an ensemble itself. He provided walking bass lines with his feet, left hand chordal accompaniment, solo lines in the right, and a booming, funky presence that punctuated every song, particularly the up-tempo cuts. Smith turned the fusion of R&B, blues, and gospel influences with bebop references and devices into a jubilant, attractive sound that many others immediately absorbed before following in his footsteps.
Smith initially learned piano both from his parents and on his own. He attended the Hamilton School of Music in 1948, and Ornstein School of Music in 1949 and 1950 in Philadelphia. Smith began playing the Hammond in 1951, and soon earned a great reputation that followed him to New York, where he debuted at the Café Bohemia. A Birdland date and 1957 Newport Jazz Festival appearance launched Smith's career.
His Blue Note recordings included both trio recordings and superb collaborations with Kenny Burrell, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Tina Brooks, Jackie McLean, Ike Quebec, and Stanley Turrentine, among others. Smith scored more hit albums on Verve from 1963 to 1972, many of them featuring big bands and using fine arrangements from Oliver Nelson. These included the excellent Walk on the Wild Side and Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo, a collaboration with guitarist Wes Montgomery.
His '70s output was quite spotty, though Smith didn't stop touring, visiting Israel and Europe in 1974 and 1975. He and his wife opened a club in Los Angeles in the mid-'70s. Smith resumed touring in the early '80s and continued wowing audiences around the world.
He re-signed with Blue Note in 1985, and has done more representative dates for them and Milestone in the '90s. After a five-year layoff, Smith returned in early 2001 with the blues projects Fourmost Return and Dot Com Blues. He remained a fixture in both small jazz clubs and large festivals until his untimely passing in February of 2005.
Breaks!
---Smith, Jimmy
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe: (Verve 1964)
* "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe (Part 2)"
GangStarr - "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
In a Plain Brown Wrapper: (Verve 1971)
* "Number One"
DJ Shadow - "In/Flux"
Root Down, Jimmy Smith Live!: (Verve 1972)
* "Root Down (And Get It)"
3rd Bass - "Steppin' to the A.M."
Beastie Boys - "Root Down"
Black Smith: (Pride 1973)
* "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe"
A Tribe Called Quest - "Push it Along"
Beastie Boys - "Professor Booty"
Kool G Rap - "Edge of Sanity"
Unfinished Business: (Mercury 1978)
* "8 Counts for Rita"
DJ Shadow - "The Number Song"
---Smith, Jimmy & Montgomery, Wes
The Dynamic Duo: (Verve 1966)
* "Baby it's Cold Outside"
De la Soul - "Skip to My Loop"
It's Not A Put Down I Put My Foot Down And Then I Make Some Love, I Put My Root Down Like Sweetie Pie By The Stone Alliance Everbody Knows I'm Known For Dropping Science I'm Electric Like Dick Hyman I Guess You'd Expect To Catch The Crew Rhymin' Never Let You Down With The Stereo Sound So Mike, Get On The Mic And Turn It Out We're Talking Root Down, I Put My Root Down And If You Want To Battle Me, You're Putting Loot Down I Said Root Down, It's Time To Scoot Down I'm A Step Up To The Mic In My Goose Down Come Up Representing From The Upper West Money Makin' Putting Me To The Test Sometimes I Feel As Though I've Been Blessed Because I'm Doing What I Want So I Never Rest Well, I'm Not Coming Out Goofy Like The Fruit Of The Loom Guys Just Strutting Like The Meters With The Look-ka Py Py 'Cause Downtown Brooklyn Is Where I Was Born but When The Snow Is Falling, Then I'm Gone You Might Think That I'm A Fanatic A Phone Call From Utah And I'm Throwing A Panic But We Kick It From The Root When We Break It On Down Jimmy Smith Is My Man, I Want To Give Him A Pound
Meeting you at a club in Hollywood with a friend that knew you was one of the best times of my life. A great man, creative with your music and down to earth with everyone. We miss you dearly.. Peace, Maggie
hi, thank you so much for adding me to you friends list, I had the pleasure of seeing Jimmy play live many times, what an inspired player, Regards Michael. EarthMedia Studios Sydney
Hi Jimmi, thanks for excepting me as a friend, truely you have helped shape the wonderful life I live,I play the blues and life is great.your the greatest groove !! merry xmass and have an awesome new year !! I put up a little jam tune called the Bangkok Hammond Boogie ! nothin serious just from the heart, cheers Keith
