Tracklist
CD 1
01. Back at the Chicken Shack (Smith) 8:02
02. The Champ (Gillespie) 8:35
03. The Sermon (Smith) 20:12
04. When Johnny Comes Marching Home (Gilmore) 7:56
05. Old Folks (Hill-Robinson) 4:47
06. One O'Clock Jump (Basie) 6:59
CD 2
01. Midnight Special (Smith) 9:53
02. The Way You Look Tonight (Kern-Fields) 5:02
03. Autumn Leaves (Kosma) 4:44
04. Open House (Smith) 16:12
05. Flamingo (Anderson-Grouya) 8:02
06. Cherokee (Noble) 20:22
Album details
Sources & Personnel on CD 1:
Tracks #1, taken from the Blue Note album "Back at the Chicken Shack" (BLP 4117)
Jimmy Smith (org), Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on April 25, 1960
Tracks #2, taken from the Blue Note album "A New Star - A New Sound, Volume 2" (BLP 1514)
Jimmy Smith (org), Thornel Schwartz (g), Art Blakey (d).
Recorded on March 27, 1956
Tracks #3, taken from the Blue Note album "The Sermon!" (BLP 4011)
Jimmy Smith (org), Lou Donaldson (as), Tina Brooks (ts), Kenny Burrell (g), Art Blakey (d).
Recorded on February 25, 1958
Tracks #4, taken from the Blue Note album "Crazy! Baby" (BLP 4030)
Jimmy Smith (org), Quentin Warren (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on January 4, 1960
Tracks #5, taken from the Blue Note album "Open House" (BLP 4269)
Jimmy Smith (org), Ike Quebec (ts), Quentin Warren (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on March 22, 1960
Tracks #6, taken from the Blue Note album "Midnight Special" (BLP 4078)
Jimmy Smith (org), S. Turrentine (ts), Kenny Burrell (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on April 25, 1960
Sources & Personnel on CD 2:
Tracks #1, taken from the Blue Note album "Midnight Special" (BLP 4078)
Jimmy Smith (org), S. Turrentine (ts), Kenny Burrell (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on April 25, 1960
Tracks #2, taken from the Blue Note album "A New Star - A New Sound, Volume 1" (BLP 1512)
Jimmy Smith (org), Thornel Schwartz (g), Bey Perry (d).
Recorded on February 18, 1956
Tracks #3, taken from the Blue Note album "At The Organ, Volume 3" (BLP 1525)
Jimmy Smith (org), Thornel Schwartz (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on June 17, 1956
Tracks #4, taken from the Blue Note album "Open House" (BLP 4269)
Jimmy Smith (org), Blue Mitchell (tp), Jackie McLean (as), Ike Quebec (ts), Quentin Warren (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on March 22, 1960
Tracks #5, taken from the Blue Note album "The Sermon!" (BLP 4011)
Jimmy Smith (org), Lee Morgan (tp), Kenny Burrell (g), Art Blakey (d).
Recorded on February 25, 1958
Tracks #6, taken from the 1979 Blue Note album "Confirmation" (LT-992)
Jimmy Smith (org), Lee Morgan (tp), Curtis Fuller (tb), George Coleman (as), Kenny Burrell (g), Donald Bailey (d).
Recorded on August 25, 1957
Mono / Stereo · Digitally RemasteredPress reviews
"Covering prime early recordings from 1956-1960, this double-CD set Japanese release offers up a fine introduction to the trailblazing jazz organist. Smith's Blue Note sessions not only introduced the world to the complex solo possibilities of the Hammond B3 organ, but simultaneously ushered in the soul-jazz era of the '60s, spawning a wealth of fine imitators in the process.
Before delving into more commercial terrain on Verve in the late '60s, Smith cut a ton of jam-session dates for Blue Note, often with the help of hard bop luminaries like trumpeter Lee Morgan, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, tenor saxophonists Tina Brooks and Stanley Turrentine, and drummers Art Blakey and Donald Bailey. All are heard here on classic cuts like "The Sermon," "Back at the Chicken Shack," and "Open House," with Smith regular Turrentine and a young Morgan availing themselves in especially fine form. For his part, Smith eats up the scenery on all the sides here, taking his solo to particularly impressive heights on a fleetly swinging rendition of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."
The King of Jazz Organ qualifies both as an excellent first-choice disc for Smith newcomers and an appropriate entrée into the soul-jazz catalog."
—Stephen Cook (All Music Guide)
