These 1957 sessions were the first Jimmy Smith did with horns after his recording debut the previous year. With the calibre of the top-rank musicians involved Smith, the first to translate Birds innovations to the organ, altoist Donaldson, the blues-drenched Bird follower, and both Mobley and Byrd contributing some thoughtful blowing of their own on tenor and trumpet respectively - the overall results were rewarding.
In the rhythm section, McFaddens warm guitar offered another colour to the organ-and-horns sound, and Blakey, as always, was a force of nature on drums in this no-holds-barred meeting of modern minds.
Tracklisting:
01. Falling in Love with Love (Rodgers-Hart) 12:08
02. How High the Moon (Hamilton-Lewis) 5:56
[Only organ, guitar, and drums]
03. Funks Oats (Smith) 15:54
04. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
(Redmond-Mills-Nemo-ellington) 16:59
05. Im Getting Sentimental Over You (Washington-Bassman) 4:11 [Only organ and alto sax]
06. Groovy Date (Mobley) 13:00
Sources:
Tracks #1-3 from the 12" LP
"A Date with Jimmy Smith - Vol. 1"
Blue Note BLP-1547 (81547)
Tracks #4-6 from the 12" LP
"A Date with Jimmy Smith - Vol. 2"
Blue Note BLP-1548 (81548)
Personnel on all tracks:
Donald Byrd (tp), Lou Donaldson (as), Hank Mobley (ts), Jimmy Smith (org), Eddie McFadden (g), Art Blakey, Donald Bailey (only on #2) (d).
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, on February 11, 12 & 13, 1957.
Original recordings produced by Alfred Lion
Photos by Francis Wolff
Cover design Reid Miles
Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
This CD release produced by Jordi Pujol.
24-Bit Digitally Remastered
