Johnny Hammond Smith

Out of all the soul-jazz organ players, only one was so thoroughly funked out that he personally adopted the name of his favorite keyboard, the B-3: Johnny "Hammond" Smith. While not as important in the development of jazz styles as other keyboard players such as Jimmy Smith, "Hammond" displayed an earthy, swinging talent worth listening to. Legends of Acid Jazz: Johnny "Hammond" Smith compiles under a single cover two albums Smith recorded in 1969, Soul Talk and Black Feeling! (complete with the liner notes from both original issues). On Legends, Smith gets down in the heady company of, among others, tenor saxophonist Rusty Bryant, funky drummer Bernard Purdie and guitarist Wally Richardson; Richardson here pays tribute to his bandmates with his compositions "Purdie Dirty" and "Johnny Hammond Boogaloo"…

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Black Coffee + Mr. Wonderful (1962-63) {2012 Riverside Remaster, Jazzplus Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 507 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 184 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2012 Riverside / Universal | 06007 5340501
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Organ

This two-fer combines two early-'60s dates for Johnny "Hammond" Smith, a gifted organist who had the chops to play more complex jazz changes while keeping the groove deep. Both of these dates were originally released on Riverside. Black Coffee, a club gig, was issued in 1962 with a lineup of saxophonist Seldon Powell, guitarist Eddie McFadden, and drummer Leo Stevens. Smith walks the line between beautifully rendered standards such as "Body and Soul" and "I Remember Clifford," as well as some hard-edged soul-jazz stompers including the title track and his own "Rufus Toofus."

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Opus De Funk (1961) {Prestige PRCD-24291-2 rel 2004}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 457 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 169 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 15 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 2004 Prestige / Fantasy | PRCD-24291-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

While organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith never attained the status of Jimmy Smith, he nonetheless fronted first-rate bands and accumulated a fine discography. Recorded in 1961, Opus de Funk brings together two Smith albums in one package, Stimulation and Opus de Funk. Since the same band – vibraphonist Freddie McCoy, guitarist Eddie McFadden, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Leo Stevens – played on both sets, and since both albums aren't very long by contemporary standards, the pair fit snuggly on the same CD. The really unusual element here is the presence of McCoy, because one doesn't usually associate vibes with jazz organ combos.

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Talk That Talk (1960) {2013 Japan Prestige New Jazz Chronicle SHM-CD HR Cutting Series UCCO-5388}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 205 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 82 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 336 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD / HR Cutting Remaster
© 1960, 2013 Prestige New Jazz / Concord / Universal Japan | UCCO-5388 | NJLP 8241
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Reissue features the latest DSD / HR Cutting remastering and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player). Comes with a description. Features the original LP designs. An excellent piece of early soul-jazz, 1960's Talk That Talk isn't as bop-oriented as Shirley Scott's albums with Stanley Turrentine from the same period, as flashy and ornate as the albums Jimmy Smith was starting to make with Creed Taylor and Lalo Schifrin, or as funky and blues-based as the best of Jimmy McGriff or "Brother" Jack McDuff. Smith's playing on this album is low-key almost to the point of being conservative, deeply soulful without resorting to what would soon become tired funk clichés.

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - All Soul (1959) {2013 Japan Prestige New Jazz Chronicle SHM-CD HR Cutting Series UCCO-5369}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 237 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 92 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 273 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD / HR Cutting Remaster
© 1959, 2013 Prestige New Jazz / Concord / Universal Japan | UCCO-5369 | NJLP 8221
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Reissue features the latest DSD remastering and HR cutting. Also features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). On Johnny "Hammond" Smith's first album as a leader, the organist simply sits himself down in front of a standard guitar-bass-drums trio (featuring guitarist Thornel Schwartz, who had previously worked with Jimmy Smith) and lets rip. The songs are a nice combination of standards, like "Secret Love," "The Masquerade Is Over" and "Pennies From Heaven," along with Smith originals that have a more blues-based, gospel-like air.

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - That Good Feelin' (1959) {2013 Japan Prestige New Jazz Chronicle SHM-CD HR Cutting Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 363 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD / HR Cutting Remaster
© 1959, 2013 Prestige New Jazz / Concord / Universal Japan | UCCO-5376 | NJLP 8229
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Reissue features the latest DSD remastering and HR cutting. Also features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). Good feelings and plenty of soul – some very early work as a leader from Hammond hero Johnny Smith! The set's got Johnny using the organ with lots of stops out – that full, wide range of the instrument that initially knocked so many folks for a loop when it first came into jazz – then really took strong formation in the hands of a player like this! The groove's a bit like a Jimmy Smith record for Blue Note, but a lot grittier too – with some occasional elements of R&B mixed in with the more far-reaching jazz sensibilities. The group features Thornel Schwartz on guitar, who'd played famously with Jimmy Smith – plus George Tucker on bass and Leo Stevens on drums.