Lonnie Smith

Dr. Lonnie Smith is an unparalleled musician, composer, performer and recording artist. An authentic master and guru of the Hammond B-3 organ for over five decades, he has been featured on over seventy albums, and has recorded and performed with a virtual "Who's Who" of the greatest jazz, blues and R&B giants in the industry. Since leaving the Blue Note stable in the '70s, Dr. Smith has recorded for a slew of record labels, ascending the charts many times. The resurrection of Lonnie Smith continues with this exciting mini-survey of the Jimi Hendrix legacy. This time, the material allows Smith's crackling, tightly knit collaborators, John Abercrombie and Marvin "Smitty" Smith.

Dr. Lonnie Smith is an unparalleled musician, composer, performer and recording artist. An authentic master and guru of the Hammond B-3 organ for over five decades, he has been featured on over seventy albums, and has recorded and performed with a virtual "Who’s Who" of the greatest jazz, blues and R&B giants in the industry. His unpredictable, insatiable musical taste illustrates that no genre is safe, as Lonnie has recorded everything from covers of the Beatles, the Stylistics and the Eurythmics, to tribute albums of Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane and Beck–all by employing ensembles ranging from a trio to a fifteen-piece big band. Moreover, many of Doc’s recent compositions reflect dramatic ethereal qualities and orchestration that elicit movie scores or soundtracks.

Dr. Lonnie Smith is an unparalleled musician, composer, performer and recording artist. An authentic master and guru of the Hammond B-3 organ for over five decades, he has been featured on over seventy albums, and has recorded and performed with a virtual "Who's Who" of the greatest jazz, blues and R&B giants in the industry. Since leaving the Blue Note stable in the '70s, Dr. Smith has recorded for a slew of record labels, ascending the charts many times. The resurrection of Lonnie Smith continues with this exciting mini-survey of the Jimi Hendrix legacy. This time, the material allows Smith's crackling, tightly knit collaborators, John Abercrombie and Marvin "Smitty" Smith.

Dr. Lonnie Smith is an unparalleled musician, composer, performer and recording artist. An authentic master and guru of the Hammond B-3 organ for over five decades, he has been featured on over seventy albums, and has recorded and performed with a virtual "Who’s Who" of the greatest jazz, blues and R&B giants in the industry. His unpredictable, insatiable musical taste illustrates that no genre is safe, as Lonnie has recorded everything from covers of the Beatles, the Stylistics and the Eurythmics, to tribute albums of Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane and Beck–all by employing ensembles ranging from a trio to a fifteen-piece big band. Moreover, many of Doc’s recent compositions reflect dramatic ethereal qualities and orchestration that elicit movie scores or soundtracks.

Dr. Lonnie Smith, legendary Hammond B-3 organ master, is set to release his first Blue Note album in 45 years. Special guests incl. Robert Glasper & Joe Lovano. Smith first made a name for himself in the late 1960s as a sideman with saxophonist Lou Donaldson on albums including "Alligator Bogaloo" & soon after as a leader with his own soul-jazz classics including "Think!" & "Turning Point".

This isn't the first time Lonnie Smith has released an album dedicated to guitar great Jimi Hendrix. As with Purple Haze, guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith backed up Smith for his first tip of the hat to Hendrix on Foxy Lady. It was so successful Smith went forward with a new tribute - Purple Haze.

This isn't the first time Lonnie Smith has released an album dedicated to guitar great Jimi Hendrix. As with Purple Haze, guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith backed up Smith for his first tip of the hat to Hendrix on Foxy Lady. It was so successful Smith went forward with a new tribute - Purple Haze.

Dr. Lonnie Smith's "Mama Wailer" is one of the quintessential sides issued by Creed Taylor's CTI/Kudu imprint. Uncharacteristically, Smith played clavinet as well as organ on this set, and arranged all but one track. The rest of the band was comprised of Billy Cobham, Ron Carter, Chuck Rainey, Grover Washington, Jr., Airto, Jimmy Ponder, George Davis, and others.

Dr. Lonnie Smith's "Mama Wailer" is one of the quintessential sides issued by Creed Taylor's CTI/Kudu imprint. Uncharacteristically, Smith played clavinet as well as organ on this set, and arranged all but one track. The rest of the band was comprised of Billy Cobham, Ron Carter, Chuck Rainey, Grover Washington, Jr., Airto, Jimmy Ponder, George Davis, and others.

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.