Results for "Jimmy Smith"

Jimmy Smith

Born James Oscar Smith in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Smith was influenced by both gospel and blues. He first achieved prominence in the 1950s where his recordings became popular on jukeboxes before there were commonly used terms to describe his unique musical flavor. In the sixties and seventies he helped create the jazz style known as 'funk' or 'soul jazz'. There had been earlier limited use of the electronic organ in jazz (notably by Fats Waller and Count Basie), though these early examples sometimes had a novelty feel. Smith is widely recognized as introducing the electric organ as a legitimate musical instrument, capable of virtuoso improvisation. Smith employed a unique technique to emulate a string bass player on the organ

John Hart: Act Three

By EDWARD BLANCO

Guitarist John Hart has long had an affinity for working with groups that feature the organ as a primary instrument. Having worked with Jimmy Smith and logged a 16-year tenure with organist Jack McDuff, the guitarist now presents Act Three, yet another project with another organ master, this time New York-based keyboardist Gary Versace on the ...

First, Ohm’s Law (musically)

By MARC COHN

Starting out, a 'physics lesson' courtesy of Seamus Blake, Hank Mobley & Tain! We revive our R&B compare and contrast feature with Ivory Joe Hunter versus Jimmy Smith. Centennials? Of course: Bird and Dave Brubeck (solo)! Along the way, John Patitucci, Bud Powell, Gregory Agid and Anat Cohen, as well as our continuing chronological celebration of ...

3D Jazz Trio: I Love To See You Smile

By DAN BILAWSKY

The spirit of sisterhood isn't based on size, but, rather, built on the power of kinship. If anybody in the jazz world truly understands that fact, it's drummer Sherrie Maricle. Way ahead of the curve when it comes to spotlighting the need for female empowerment and equality in the music, she's helmed the Diva Jazz Orchestra ...

Top Ten Horizontal Guitar Players

By ALAN BRYSON

Who could have imagined that a few serendipitous events on a remote Pacific island in the 19th century would fundamentally change American music. In 1832 Hawaii's king brought Mexican cowboys to the Big Island to teach native Hawaiians how gain control of their rapidly increasing cattle population. As luck would have it, some of these cowboys ...

Take Five with Bartosz Hadala

By BARTOSZ HADALA

Meet Bartosz Hadala Bartosz Hadala was born in Stalowa Wola, Poland and started his musical education at the age 7 at the local School of Music. Still as a teenager he participated in competitions, workshops and festivals. He became the youngest finalist in the Mieczyslaw Kosz International Jazz Piano Competition at the age 15. Two years ...

Ray Blue: Work

By EDWARD BLANCO

New York-based and bred, tenor saxophonist Ray Blue is no novice but a veteran player who has not received the accolades he so deserves. Perhaps after laying down and documenting an incredible volume of music on Work, the spotlight will shine a little brighter on this unheralded player. A composer and educator, as well as one ...

The Soul Jazz Organ of Jimmy Smith, Baby Face Willette, Shirley Scott (1957 - 1965)

By RUSSELL PERRY

Rarely has a jazz instrument been so completely redefined as the organ was at the hands of Jimmy Smith. In his wake, the Hammond B3 organ gained wide-spread popularity and attracted a suite of talented adherents. B3 players Jimmy Smith, Baby Face Willette and Shirley Scott in this hour of Jazz at 100 as we continue ...

Tina Brooks Quintet: The Complete Recordings

By CHRIS MAY

Mosaic Records' spring 2020 release The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70, the second of the label's box sets devoted to the copiously recorded (and rightly so) Hank Mobley, prompts thoughts of another of Blue Note's singular hard-bop tenor saxophone stylists. Unlike Mobley, Tina Brooks was woefully under-recorded, making just four albums under his own ...

Gegè Telesforo: Improvvisazione senza fine

By PAOLO MARRA

Artista poliedrico e curioso Gegè Telesforo ha mantenuto in più di tre decenni di attività una cifra stilistica originale e autentica. Acclamato innovatore a livello internazionale nell'uso dello scat vocals, nella sua musica le sillabe si muovono libere e sinouse a ritmo di funk e swing in un concentrato raffinato di pura e semplice energia. Musicista, ...