Jimmy Smith

INCLUDES FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD ALBUM PLUS 1 BONUS TRACK

4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

PERSONNEL:

A1 & B1-B2:
JIMMY SMITH, organ
LEE MORGAN, trumpet (out on B2)
CURTIS FULLER, trombone (out on B2)
GEORGE COLEMAN, alto sax
EDDIE McFADDEN, guitar on A1
KENNY BURRELL, guitar on B1 & B2
DONALD BAILEY, drums

New York, August 25, 1957.

A2:
JIMMY SMITH, organ
LEE MORGAN, trumpet
LOU DONALDSON, alto sax
TINA BROOKS, tenor sax
KENNY BURRELL, guitar
ART BLAKEY, drums

New York, February 25, 1958.

SIDE A:
1 WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE
2 CONFIRMATION

SIDE B:
1 CHEROKEE
2 LITTLE GIRL BLUE *

*BONUS TRACK: From the same sessions, but not included on the original LP.

On August 25, 1957, and February 25, 1958, organist Jimmy Smith (1925-2005) produced two of the sessions for which he would be best remembered. Apart from his own superlative talents, what made both sessions unique was the personnel.

The dates featured two talented stars that would die far too young – trumpeter Lee Morgan and tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks. Smith and Morgan wouldn’t record together again, while Brooks would participate on a live session with Smith
recorded at Small’s Paradise Club in New York on April 7, 1958 (which also featured Lou Donaldson; part of the live set was issued under the title Cool Blues). The dates also included such outstanding jazz figures as alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, trombonist Curtis Fuller, alto saxophonist George Coleman, guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Art Blakey. By the time these recordings were made, Lee Morgan was already part of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.