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Jimmy Smith | Essential albums and listening guide
Explore Jimmy Smith through Back at the Chicken Shack. Discover what to listen for and follow related styles to your next record.
Jimmy Smith
Meet the artist
An organist who brought the Hammond to prominence as a jazz solo instrument and helped develop soul jazz rooted in blues and gospel. Chords, fluid melody and pulsing bass create a large sound from a small ensemble.
The Hammond organ's sustain carries church-music energy and blues warmth. Exchanges with guitar and drums deepen the groove through short repeated phrases. Changes of density make the instrument seem to breathe. His music offers soul and funk listeners an inviting example of electric instruments giving jazz a distinctive new voice.
Where to start listening
Notice the contrast between sustained organ tones and clipped phrases. Following the low notes as well helps reveal the layers of the band's groove.
1963Back at the Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
It’s a famous album of organ jazz performances by Jimmy Smith, featuring musicians like Stanley Tarentein and Kenny Barrell. With its soulful rhythm, it became one of Bruno’s top hits.
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1959The Sermon!
Jimmy Smith
It’s a masterpiece by Jimmy Smith, featuring performances by Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Art Blakey, and others. The 20-minute title track is known as a masterful example of organ jazz.
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Years follow the Atlas catalogue. Recording dates, original release dates and digital reissue dates may differ.