Superb and groovin'
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.

A Good Jimmy Smith Starter CD
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.

Jimmy Smith, Home Cookin'
Basically, this is a real down home swingin' blues album. Jimmy Smith could always get down and groovy into the blues as he does here. You wonder what the world would have lost if the Hammond B-3 was never invented. There clearly isn't an instrument better suited for Smith and his bluesy ideas.

Smith just has fun going up and down the scales, with ease and brilliance, then stopping where he likes it, to swing you down home.

Like many other albums I buy, the cover is what attracted me to the album. I love this cover! The top five Blue Note album covers would be Sonny Clark's Cool Struttin', Hank Mobley's Workout, Joe Henderson's Mode For Joe, Larry Young's Unity, and this one, by Jimmy Smith!

After putting in the cd, I relized this was going to be a cool blue session. Percy France is on tenor. He reminds me of Tina Brooks, in the fact that they didn't get that much recognition. Kenny Burrell, who's simplistic style fits well here. Donald Bailey, who is on practically every other Jimmy Smith Blue Note out there, doesn't solo as usual. Instead, provides a back bone for Percy, Smith, and Burrell to throw out their ideas.

One interesting thing about this album is the song, I Got A Women, the popular tune by Ray Charles. That tune cooks! Burrell helps out Smith on this one with the melody. The only other cover, besides See See Rider, Since I Fell For You, is quite good! Ramsey Lewis and Vince Guaraldi have been known to include these in their sets.

The tune Gracie, which Ira Gitler points out is not the wife of George Brown, but rather a sophisticated women! Come On Baby is all Kenny, and Apostrophe, the only France original, did not appear on the orginal issue on vinyl back in 1959.

Especially now with the bonus tracks, their is even more reason to get this cd. Including some alternate takes are brand new tunes never heard at all. They included Groanin' and Apostrophe.

France lays out some tracks here. Basically this is not a fireous album. This is cool blues, to put on at night and groove to. Home Cookin'!! Get your cookin' and groovin' done here!

Home Cookin!!!!!!!
Basically, this is a real down home swingin' blues album. Jimmy Smith could always get down and groovy into the blues as he does here. You wonder what the world would have lost if the Hammond B-3 was never invented. There clearly isn't an instrument better suited for Smith and his bluesy ideas.

Smith just has fun going up and down the scales, with ease and brilliance, then stopping where he likes it, to swing you down home.

Like many other albums I buy, the cover is what attracted me to the album. I love this cover! The top five Blue Note album covers would be Sonny Clark's Cool Struttin', Hank Mobley's Workout, Joe Henderson's Mode For Joe, Larry Young's Unity, and this one, by Jimmy Smith!

After putting in the cd, I relized this was going to be a cool blue session. Percy France is on tenor. He reminds me of Tina Brooks, in the fact that they didn't get that much recognition. Kenny Burrell, who's simplistic style fits well here. Donald Bailey, who is on practically every other Jimmy Smith Blue Note out there, doesn't solo as usual. Instead, provides a back bone for Percy, Smith, and Burrell to throw out their ideas.

One interesting thing about this album is the song, I Got A Women, the popular tune by Ray Charles. That tune cooks! Burrell helps out Smith on this one with the melody. The only other cover, besides See See Rider, Since I Fell For You, is quite good! Ramsey Lewis and Vince Guaraldi have been known to include these in their sets.

The tune Gracie, which Ira Gitler points out is not the wife of George Brown, but rather a sophisticated women! Come On Baby is all Kenny, and Apostrophe, the only France original, did not appear on the orginal issue on vinyl back in 1959.

Especially now with the bonus tracks, their is even more reason to get this cd. Including some alternate takes are brand new tunes never heard at all. They included Groanin' and Apostrophe.

France lays out some tracks here. Basically this is not a fireous album. This is cool blues, to put on at night and groove to. Home Cookin'!! Get your cookin' and groovin' done here!