Jazz Articles about Donald Bailey

About Donald Bailey

Reassessing

Back At The Chicken Shack celebrates 60 years since its recording date at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs. The same session produced Midnight Special (Blue Note, 1961), though Back At The Chicken Shack would have to wait three years for its release. The label's co-founder, Alfred Lion, later revealed that the healthy sales of this album, alongside many others from Jimmy Smith, kept the record company afloat. The album features, at the time, a youthful but ...

314

Album Review

Jimmy Smith: Home Cookin'

Read "Home Cookin'" reviewed by Sean Patrick Fitzell

by Sean Patrick Fitzell
June 18, 2005

"The Incredible Jimmy Smith cemented his reputation as the king of jazz organ during his prolific residency at Blue Note from 1956-63, as both a leader and collaborator with labelmates. His popularity and record sales helped the label grow and foster new talent. When he returned to Blue Note later in his career, it was only appropriate that they revisit and restore those early releases so essential for Smith's, and Blue Note's, legacy. Home Cookin' is the ...

293

Album Review

Jimmy Smith: The Boss

Read "The Boss" reviewed by Germein Linares

by Germein Linares
March 1, 2005

Recorded at Paschal's La Carousel in Atlanta, Georgia, this '68 date has Jimmy Smith's organ paired with George Benson and Nathan Page on guitar as well as Donald Bailey on drums. The three originals, “Some of My Best Friends Are Blues," “The Boss," and “Fingers," are typical of Smith's compositions with organ and guitar conjuring electrified versions of the blues, soul and jazz. The Burt Bacharach tune, “This Guy's In Love With You," comes with more sophistication in its chords ...