Documentary: Jimmy Smith

In the fall of 1965, organist Jimmy Smith traveled to Europe to play a series of dates with guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Billy Hart. In November, the trio was in Germany, along with Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody and others, and then in Helsinki, Finland, before returning to New York. Along for the ride was a German TV camera crew, which winds up catching a bit of Smith's notorious edge. There are cameos by attorney Clarence Avant as well as appearances by Rudy Van Gelder and Creed Taylor at the December 16 Got My Mojo Working recording date for Verve. Particularly fascinating is Smith being turned on to the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction for inclusion on his Mojo album. There's also a scene in which Smith's wife explains how she deals with his temper. All in all, a fascinating look at the father of the modern organ holding his own at the dawn of the rock era. A special thanks to Jim Eigo for sending this one along...