Home »
Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dr. Lonnie Smith: The Turbanator
Dr. Lonnie Smith: The Turbanator
Organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, who has often been confused with keyboardist/pianist Lonnie Liston Smith, is perhaps best known for his work with guitarist George Benson and saxophonist Lou Donaldson. Smith’s fiery, funky, R&B-based approach made him the ideal soul-jazz accompanist. Compared to these early efforts, The Turbanator is a rather mellow, albeit very enjoyable, outing. Perhaps that is why this previously unreleased session, which was recorded in 1991, sat on the shelf all those years. This is not to say that The Turbanator is not without its surprises and delights. The rollicking opening track,
Caravan should please Smith’s fans who like their funk hot and spicy but on the next cut, the B-3 whiz takes an entirely different approach. Smith switches to piano to perform a lovely, laid-back version of his original,
Night Song. It may not be a barn burner but I pick this slow, blues-drenched number, which features some fine octave work by guitarist Jimmy Ponder, as one of the CD’s highlights. The Turbanator closes with the deeply grooved
Brushin’ It, where Smith, Houston Person (tenor sax), Buster Williams (bass), Buddy Williams (drums) and the aforementioned Jimmy Ponder, all get to strut their stuff. ####
Track Listing
1. Caravan, 2. Night Song, 3. Someday My Prince Will Come, 4. River Walk, 5. Monk Could Swing, 6. Cherokee, 7. Brushin' It
Personnel
Dr. Lonnie Smith (organ), Houston Person (tenor sax), Jimmy Ponder (guitar), Buster Williams (bass), Buddy Williams (drums)
Album information
Title: The Turbanator
| Year Released: 2000
| Record Label: Palmetto Records
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to
future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by
making a donation today.
