The Hammond organ, named after its inventor Laurens Hammond, debuted in 1935 as a cost-effective electro-acoustic alternative to the gigantic pipe organs mainly installed in churches. Among Hammond’s first customers were George Gershwin and Count Basie. Jazz pianists like Basie, Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davis and Milt Buckner were the founding fathers of the instrument’s international conquest, which led across all styles of popular music, from jazz to progressive rock, with its heyday in the 1960s and ’70s.
The man who gave those swinging beginnings a necessary new drive was jazz pianist Jimmy Smith (1928-2005). After hearing Wild Bill Davis in 1954, he bought himself a Hammond organ and spent a year
practicing the instrument in an old warehouse. Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records discovered Smith at a club performance in Philadelphia and signed him. Jimmy Smith’s second album already, released in 1956, marked his commercial breakthrough and also made Blue Note rise to a new level. For eight years, Smith recorded hit after hit for the label and also inspired a generation of successors in the new organ trio format with electric guitar and drum accompaniment, often with the addition of a tenor saxophonist (or vice versa).
The term Soul Jazz best describes this new direction in jazz, spearheaded by, alongside Smith, organists like Richard “Groove” Holmes, Freddie Roach, “Brother” Jack McDuff, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, John Patton, Mel Rhyne, Baby Face Willette, Don Patterson and Shirley Scott . Leading saxophonists of the genre include Gene Ammons, Ike Quebec, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Stitt, and Stanley Turrentine. Larry Young, who came up on the tail end of this development, was an innovator equal to Jimmy Smith, turning towards
avant-garde jazz and electric fusion with Miles Davis, Tony Williams and Carlos Santana after initially grooving in a more traditional way. Maceo Parker rejuvenated Soul Jazz in the 90s and today organists such as Larry Goldings and Joey DeFrancesco mark their territory somewhere between Jimmy Smith and Larry Young.
CD 1
■ Johnny Hodges feat. Wild Bill Davis – Blue Hodge
1. And Then Some (Johnny Hodges) 4.07
2. I Wonder Why (Mercer Ellington) 4.30
3. Azure Te (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) 2.58
4. Blue Hodge (Gary McFarland) 6.20
5. Hodge Podge (Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges) 4.05
6. It Shouldn’t Happen to a Dream (Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges) 3.11
7. Why Are You Blue? (Gary McFarland) 3.26
8. Knuckles (Gary McFarland) 5.11
9. Stand By Blues (Johnny Hodges) 4.30
10. There Is No Greater Love (Isham Jones, Marty Symes) 3.26
Johnny Hodges (as) Wild Bill Davis (organ) Les Spann (git, fl) Sam Jones (b) Louis Hayes (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on August 23 and 24, 1961
■ Milt Buckner – Please Mr. Organ Player….
11. Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying (Joe Greene) 3.10
12. You’re Lookin’ Good (Milt Buckner) 2.18
13. Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You (Don Redman, Andy Razaf) 2.45
14. Blue Prelude (Gordon Jenkins, Joe Bishop) 3.22
15. Long Gone (Sonny Thompson, Lewis Simkins) 2.22
16. Please, Mr. Organ Player (Milt Buckner) 1.56
17. Sermonette (Nat Adderley) 3.02
18. Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk) 5.13
19. Buck’n The Blues (Milt Buckner) 2.50
20. Cry Me A River (Arthur Hamilton) 2.37 Milt Buckner (organ) Jimmy Campbell (as) Reggie Boyd (git) Richard Evans (b) Maurice Sinclaire (drs)
Recorded in Chicago on May 26 and 27, 1960
TOTAL TIME 71.21
CD 2
■ Jimmy Smith Plays Fats Waller
1. Everybody Loves My Baby (Jack Palmer, Spencer Williams) 3.45
2. Squeeze Me (Fats Waller) 5.30
3. Ain’t She Sweet (Milton Ager, Jack Yellen) 3.35
4. Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Waller) 3.43
5. Lulu’s Back In Town (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) 5.20
6. Honeysuckle Rose (Andy Razaf, Waller) 7.00
7. I’ve Found a New Baby (Palmer, Williams) 6.04
Jimmy Smith (organ) Quentin Warren (git) Donald Bailey (drs)
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on January 23, 1962
■ The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith – Bashin
8. Walk on the Wild Side (Elmer Bernstein, Mack David) 5.56
9. Ol’ Man River (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) 3.55
10. In a Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler) 4.25
11. Step Right Up (Oliver Nelson) 4.13 Jimmy Smith (organ) Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Doc Severinsen, Joe Wilder (tp) Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman (tb) Tom Mitchell (b-tb) Phil Woods,
Jerry Dodgion (as) Bob Ashton, Babe Clarke (ts) George Barrow (brs) Barry Galbraith (git) George Duvivier (b) Ed Shaughnessy (drs) Oliver Nelson (arranger, conductor)
12. Beggar for the Blues (Ray Rasch, Dotty Wayne) 7.29
13. Bashin’ (Jimmy Smith) 6.15
14. I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) (Johnny Mercer) 6.07
Jimmy Smith (organ) Quentin Warren (git) Donald Bailey (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs on March 26 and 28, 1962
TOTAL TIME 73.19
CD 3
■ Mel Rhyne – Organ-izing
1. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington) 11.00
2. Blue Farouq (Blue Mitchell) 10.45
3. Barefoot Sunday Blues (Cannonball Adderley) 12.52
4. Shoo Shoo Baby (Phil Moore) 8.42 Mel Rhyne (organ) Blue Mitchell (tp) Johnny Griffin (ts) Gene Harris (p)
Andy Simpkins (b) Albert “Tootie” Heath (drs)
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York City; March 31, 1960
■ Shirley Scott Trio Moodsville No. 5
5. Sweet Lorraine (Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish) 4.32
6. I Thought I’d Let You Know (Cal Massey) 4.21
7. I Should Care (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston) 4.48
8. Spring Is Here (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) 4.47
9. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) 3.58
10. Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You (Andy Razaf, Don Redman) 4.16
11. Until the Real Thing Comes Along (Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman) 5.11
12. Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman) 3.49 Shirley Scott (organ) George Duvivier (b: tracks 5, 7, 6,10, 11)
George Tucker (b: 6, 8, 9, 12) Arthur Edgehill (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on October 23, 1958
and in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 8, 1960
TOTAL TIME 79.03
CD 4
■ Grant Green – Grant´s First Stand
1. Miss Ann’s Tempo (Grant Green) 5.42
2. Lullaby of the Leaves (Bernice Petkere, Joe Young) 7.42
3. Blues for Willareen (Grant Green) 7.11
4. Baby’s Minor Lope (Baby Face Willette) 7.18
5. ‘Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do (Porter Grainger) 4.28
6. A Wee Bit O’Green (Grant Green) 7.48
Grant Green (git) Baby Face Willette (organ) Ben Dixon (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs n January 28, 1961
■ Ike Quebec feat. Freddie Roach
– It Might As Well Be Spring
7. It Might As Well Be Spring (Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers) 6.21
8. A Light Reprieve (Ike Quebec) 5.24
9. Easy Don’t Hurt (Ike Quebec) 6.10
10. Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Roger (“Ram”) Ramirez, James Sherman) 5.57
11. Ol’ Man River (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein) 6.37
12. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) 5.22
Ike Quebec (ts) Freddie Roach (organ) Milt Hinton (b) Al Harewood (drs) Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on December 9th, 1961
TOTAL TIME 76.02
CD 5
■ Larry Young – Testifying
1. Testifying (Larry Young) 9.55
2. When I Grow Too Old to Dream (Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg) 5.18
3. Exercise for Chihuahuas (Joe Holiday) 7.37
4. Falling in Love With Love (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) 5.07
5. Some Thorny Blues (Larry Young) 6.24
6. Wee Dot (J. J. Johnson) 7.08
7. Flamingo (Edmund Anderson, Ted Grouya) 5.26
Larry Young (organ) Joe Holiday (ts: 3 & 7)
Thornel Schwartz (guitar) Jimmie Smith (drs)
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on August 2, 1960
TOTAL TIME 46.58
CD 6
■ Larry Young – Young Blues
1. Young Blues (Larry Young) 6.29
2. A Midnight Angel (Morris Bailey) 2.24
3. African Blues (Larry Young) 4.50
4. Little White Lies (Walter Donaldson) 4.15
5. Minor Dream (Ray Draper) 5.04
6. Something New/Something Blue (Larry Young) 7.25
7. Nica’s Dream (Horace Silver) 6.39 Larry Young (organ) Thornel Schwartz (git) Wendell Marshall (b) Jimmie Smith (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on September 30, 1960
■ Oliver Nelson feat. Johnny „Hammond
„
Smith
– Taking Care Of Business
8. Trane Whistle (Oliver Nelson) 9.55
9. Doxy (Sonny Rollins) 6.59
10. In Time (Oliver Nelson) 5.32
11. Lou’s Good Dues (Oliver Nelson) 6.19
12. All The Way (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) 7.34
13. Groove (Oliver Nelson) 6.30 Oliver Nelson (as, ts) Johnny “Hammond” Smith (organ) Lem Winchester (vibes)
George Tucker (b) Roy Haynes (drs) Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on March 22, 1960
TOTAL TIME 79.58
CD 7
■ Baby Face Willette – Stop And Listen
1. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) 8.15
2. Chances Are (Roosevelt Willette) 7.42
3. Jumpin’ Jupiter (Roosevelt Willette) 5.12
4. Stop And Listen (Roosevelt Willette) 4.38
5. At Last (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) 7.20
6. Soul Walk (Roosevelt Willette) 5.24
7. Work Song (Nat Adderley) 4.54
Baby Face Willette (organ) Grant Green (git) Ben Dixon (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs on May 22, 1961
TOTAL TIME 43.26
CD 8
■ Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt feat. Don Patterson
– Boss Tenors In Orbit
1. Long Ago, And Far Away (Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern) 6.18
2. Walkin’ (Richard Carpenter) 5.21
3. Why Was I Born? (Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern) 8.22
4. John Brown’s Body (Traditional) 7.24
5. Bye, Bye Blackbird (Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson) 9.58
Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt (ts) Sonny Stitt (as: 2, 3) Don Patterson (organ) Paul Weeden (git) William James (drs) Recorded in New York in February 1962
■ Sonny Stitt With Jack McDuff – Stitt Meets Brother Jack
6. All of Me (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons) 4.47
7. Pam Ain’t Blue (Sonny Stitt) 4.28
8. Time After Time (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) 4.34
9. Ringin’ In (Sonny Stitt) 5.15
10. ‘Nother Fu’ther (Sonny Stitt) 6.21
11. When Sonny Gets Blue (Jack McDuff, Sonny Stitt) 6.39
12. Thirty-Three, Ninety Six (Sonny Stitt) 6.03
Sonny Stitt (ts) Jack McDuff (organ) Eddie Diehl (git) Art Taylor (drs) Ray Barretto (congas)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 16, 1962
TOTAL TIME 75.56
CD 9
■ Shirley Scott Plays Horace Silver
1. Senor Blues (Horace Silver) 4.01
2. Moon Ray (Horace Silver) 5.40
3. Sister Sadie (Horace Silver) 7.22
4. Doodlin’ (Horace Silver) 5.19
5. The Preacher (Horace Silver) 5.17
6. Strollin’ (Horace Silver) 6.22
Shirley Scott (organ) Henry Grimes (b) Otis Finch (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on November 17, 1961
■ Richard „Groove„ Holmes & Gene Ammons – Groovin´ With Jug
7. Good Vibrations (Art Farmer) 8.44
8. Willow Weep for Me (Ann Ronell) 7.13
9. Juggin’ Around (Frank Foster) 3.26
10. Groovin’ With Jug (Gene Ammons) 4.20
11. Morris the Minor (Richard Holmes) 7.57
12. Groove (Oliver Nelson) 6.16 Richard “Groove” Holmes (organ) Gene Ammons (ts) Gene Edwards (git) Leroy Henderson (drs)
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on August 15, 1961
TOTAL TIME 71.58
CD 10
■ Jack McDuff – Tough ´Duff
1. Smooth Sailing (Arnett Cobb) 6.48
2. Mean to Me (Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) 5.41
3. Tippin’ In (Bobby Smith, Marty Symes) 5.24
4. Yeah, Baby (Jack McDuff) 8.55
5. Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert) 5.14
6. Tough ‘Duff (Jack McDuff) 7.03
Jack McDuff (organ) Jimmy Forrest (ts) Lem Winchester (vibes) Bill Elliot (drs) Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on July 12, 1960
■ Johnny „Hammond„ Smith with Lem Winchester
– Gettin´ The Message
7. Swanee River (Traditional) 8.54
8. Just Say So Long (Johnny “Hammond” Smith) 4.02
9. Lid Flippin’ (Johnny “Hammond” Smith) 5.16
10. Gettin’ the Message (Johnny “Hammond” Smith) 7.14
11. Princess (Johnny “Hammond” Smith) 5.29
12. Dementia (Johnny “Hammond” Smith) 5.19
Johnny “Hammond” Smith (organ) Lem Winchester (vibes) Eddie McFadden (git) Wendell Marshall (b) Bill Erskine (drs) Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs on October 14, 1960
TOTAL TIME 75.21