In his years with Verve, Jimmy Smith and his jaunty jazz organ made four appearances on Billboard's hit-singles charts with his recordings of contemporary movie themes. This album, arranged by Lalo Schifrin, features selections from two film scores (including 'The Cat', for which composer Schifrin won a Grammy), some big-band style orchestrations, and plenty of blues. In 1964 this release defied the boundaries of idiom, appealing to a huge audience of jazz, r&b, and pop fans.
'If this album isn't in your collection you can't maintain you really know Jimmy Smith. For a lot of people this is the first and most played Jimmy Smith album and that might be because every time you play this album it will sound as the first time you hear it. Going to a deserted island we would pick this one, among many others of course. Impressive big-band style orchestrations arranged by Lalo Schifrin, a shooting horn section trying to blow Jimmy Smith away from the organ. But he is so powerful on this album.' HammondJazz.net
Recorded in 1964 at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; tracks 1, 4, and 7 on April 27; tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 on April 29.
Musicians:
Jimmy Smith organ
Thad Jones trumpet
Jimmy Maxwell trumpet
Marky Markowitz trumpet
Ernie Royal trumpet
Snooky Young trumpet
Bernie Glow trumpet
Jimmy Cleveland trombone
Urbie Green trombone
Tony Studd bass trombone
Ray Alonge french horn
Jimmy Buffington french horn
Earl Chapin french horn
Bill Correa french horn
Don Butterfield tuba
Kenny Burrell guitar
George Duvivier bass
Grady Tate drums
Phil Kraus percussion
Lalo Schifrin arranger, conductor