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Dr. Lonnie Smith: Too Damn Hot!
On his current release, the aptly titled Too Damn Hot! , Smith spices up the standard organ trio with two fiery guitarists (Peter Bernstein and Rodney Jones) in addition to organ and drums (either Greg Hutchinson or Fukushi Tainaka). Bernstein's intricate lead guitar and, especially, Jones' funky rhythm add an extra flavor to the set of mostly original Smith tunes.
Together, the quartet traces the many varieties of soul jazz from the Crescent City groove of the opening "Norleans" to the sultry blues of the title tune and the down-home funk of "Your Mama's Got a Complex." While this is a mostly heated affair, Smith cools things down on two ballads: a mild reading of Horace Silver's "Silver Serenade" and a breezy take on "Someday My Prince Will Come." This is a fun, funky album that solidifies Smith's status as one of the true heroes of the Hammond.
Track Listing
Norleans; Too Damn Hot; Black Track; The Whip; Silver Serenade; Track 9; One Cylinder; SOmeday My Prince Will Come; Your Mama's Got a Complex; Evil Turn
Personnel
Dr. Lonnie Smith
organ, Hammond B3Dr. Lonnie Smith (organ), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Rodney Brown (rhythm guitar), Greg Hutchinson (drums on "Norleans," "Back Track," "Track 9," "Love Cylinder," "Your Mama's Got a Complex"), Fukushi Tainaka (drums on all other tracks)
Album information
Title: Too Damn Hot! | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Palmetto Records
About Dr. Lonnie Smith
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