Search - Jimmy Smith: The Champ Live 1962/1999 on DVD

RE: The Master

The Wizard | UT. | 10/22/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"DVD Contents:
Jimmy Smith Trio / Jazz Scene USA / LA TV show hosted by Oscar Brown Jr. / 1962 / mono / B&W
Jimmy Smith - organ; donald bailey - drums; Quentin Warren - guitar.
Tracks - 1. intro 2. walk on the wild side 3. mack the knife 4. the champ 5. closing theme
Jimmy Smith Quintet - Islamorada Festival at the Bay / Florida Keys / October 23rd, 1999 / stereo / color
Jimmy Smith - organ; Nestor Torres - flute; Claudio Spiewah - guitar; Phil McCarthy - bass; Abner Torres - drums
William Flores - percussion; Edwin Bonilla - percussion
TOTAL PLAYING TIME - 68 minutes Video quality - acceptable

When talking about the Hammond B3 organ in music, you must add, before Jimmy Smith...or after. A career that spanned over 5 decades, until his passing! Jimmy Smith was responsible for transcending the organ in jazz and pop, from a novelty, to an art. His sheer mastery of the instrument was overwhelming at times. But he never lost that down home cookin' groove, that I will always love.

I remember, as a kid, on the south side of Chicago, I'd go to the Museum of Science & Industry. And there, they had little soundproof booths, where you could play a Hammond organ. And I'd sit there, trying my best to mimic Jimmy...

This DVD is an interesting compilation, as the 2 performances are 37 years apart!

The 2 programs on this DVD are of acceptable video quality, and hopefully, in the near future, we will see higher quality dvds, of his genius.

Or, sadly, he may be one of the few masters, like Roy Buchanan and Paul Butterfield, who just were never properly caught on film.

But, the sheer number of albums and cds, that are available by Jimmy Smith, can be enjoyed forever.

The words Master, and Legend, I do not use very often. Jimmy Smith was both.





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