Lonnie Smith

Great later work from Lonnie Smith – a set that's quite different than his initial Hammond material for Blue Note – but equally excellent in its own sort of way!

The album has Lonnie playing both Fender Rhodes and organ – the former with this sweet, tight groove that's mighty nice – a bit like when Johnny Hammond or Jack McDuff touched the instrument on their own albums from the 70s – with all the chunky, funky qualities learned from their solos on the Hammond.

Production is by Sonny Lester, and the groups here are relatively big, which gives a bit of a blacksploitation funk to the record – but part of the record also has a leaner group with Joe Lovano on tenor, blowing some beautifully extended solos – as well as George Benson on guitar.

PERSONNEL:

• George Young - (alto sax, flute)
• Lew Del Gatto (baritone sax, flute)
• Bob Babbitt, Francisco Centeno, Will Lee - (bass)
• Alan Schwarzberg, Ben Riley, Jamey Haddad, Rick Marotta - (drums)
• Fred Griffin - (french horn)
• George Benson, Jerry Friedman, Lance Quinn, Richie Hohenburger - (guitar)
• Eddie Daniels, Joe Randazzo, John Sheply, John Frosk, Marvin Stamme - (horns)
• Lonnie Smith - (keyboards)
• Jimmy Maelen - (percussion)
• Yaron Gershovsky - (piano)
• Joe Lovano (tenor sax)
• Barry Rodgers, Dave Taylor - (trombone)
• Alan Rubin, Randy Brecker - (trumpet)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. When The Night Is Right !
• A2. It's Changed
• A3. Lean Meat

• SIDE B
• B1. Apex
• B2. Impressions