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"
Always great thanks for having the man, the music, the history here~ Honestly..'Can't Get Enough'.. of the man, the music, the history... Thank you for being here
I met Jimmy back in 1991 when I was working as a landscaper. He hired us to remover some bushes from his new home. He was suprised that a youngster like me knew who he was....he told me "A boy like should be listening to all that Rockin 'N' Roll stuff" I told him that I was also a musician and a singer/songwriter and was raised on all the greats like him. I could tell he was a little "buzzed" He asked if I would like to have a drink with him...I was honered!! So he busted out the E@J brandy and we took a shot or 2 together. Then I asked him if he minded playing something for me. He went right over to Hammond B3 and played the most beautiful version of "Amazing Grace". He told me to come by anytime to jam....unfortunately, I never got the chance. Anyway I thought I would share this with you all!! : ) Peace, Ken koenig
Honoured to be in Jimmy's circle. Was listening yesterday to his live set at Small's Paradise, 1957 - it astounds me still. If anything, I'd say Jimmy's legend is growing. Many thanks, Michael
♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♫ Just stopped by to hear some good music. Always the same great pleasure to listen to JIMMY SMITH. Greetings from Paris, Tomás Gubitsch ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♫
