Jimmy Smith

5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE - 4 STARS DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE

INCLUDES 2 BONUS TRACKS

Although he began as a pianist, the great Jimmy Smith (1925-2005) switched to organ after hearing Wild Bill Davis in 1953. Smith’s unparalleled skills with the Hammond helped to popularize the electric organ as a jazz and blues instrument, and he recorded prolifically during his long career. Bashin’ –The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (Verve V6- 8474), presented Smith for the first time in front of a big band, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson. The four big band sides filled Side A of the LP, while Side B contained three trio tracks taped during the same sessions, featuring Smith’s regular guitarist and drummer, Quentin Warren and Donald Bailey, respectively. Bashin’ marked the first collaboration between Smith and Oliver Nelson, who would also conduct the bands and contribute the arrangements on the organist’s following LPs Hobo Flats (1963), Monster (1965), Got My Mojo Workin’ (1965), Peter and the Wolf (1966), Hoochie Coochie Man (1966), The It Up (1968), which would be their last encounter on records. Smith’s trio with Warren and Bailey began its run in 1959, and a concert exists recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 4 of that year which is the first documentation of this outstanding small group. Their first studio album was Crazy Baby (1960).

PERSONNEL:

JIMMY SMITH, organ on all tracks, plus:

SIDE A: With the Big Band!
Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Doc Severinsen, Joe Wilder (tp),
Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman (tb), Tom Mitchell (b-tb),
Jerry Dodgion, Phil Woods (as), Bob Ashton, Arthur “Babe" Clarke (ts)
George Barrow (bar), Barry Galbraith (g), George Duvivier (b),
Ed Shaughnessy (d), Oliver Nelson (arr, cond).

SIDE B: With the Trio!
Quentin Warren (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, March 26 (tracks A3, A4 & B3) &
March 28 (tracks A1, A2, A5, B1, B2 & B4), 1962.
Original sessions produced by Creed Taylor.

TRACKS:

SIDE A:
1 WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (Elmer Bernstein-Mack David) 5:59
2 OL’ MAN RIVER (Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II) 4:00
3 IN A MELLOW TONE (Duke Ellington-Milt Gabler) 4:27
4 STEP RIGHT UP (Oliver Nelson) 4:17
5 OL’ MAN RIVER (Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II) [45 RPM issue] 2:50*

SIDE B:
1 BEGGAR FOR THE BLUES (Ray Rasch-Dotty Wayne) 7:29
2 BASHIN’ (Jimmy Smith) 6:16
3 I’M AN OLD COW HAND (FROM THE RIO GRANDE) (Johnny Mercer) 6:18
4 BASHIN’ (Jimmy Smith) [45 RPM issue] 2:42 *

* BONUS TRACKS: Edited versions of songs from the LP released as singles