Jimmy Smith
House Party

Jimmy Smith - "House Party"

When I discovered this album, I had never heard anything like it. And in fact, I later read that before him, the organ was used only sporadically in jazz and primarily as an accompaniment. With Jimmy Smith, however, it becomes the star of the show. So if you love the genre and can't think of an organ solo, listen to his albums! Especially those from Blue Note (but also the others), which sound fantastic and cover the entire 1955-1965 period, which, in my opinion, is when he created his most innovative work.

Rhythm & Blues and Bebop are the languages in which Smith's albums are immersed. The formations range from trio to quintet to orchestra. But what's surprising is that in many albums (including this one) it's as if he's playing two instruments simultaneously: the bass using the pedalboard and the Hammond organ using the keyboard.

And how he plays both! The figures created with the pedals move freely and confidently, bouncing here and there without losing their way. The chords and solos overlap and intertwine with these lines, with a naturalness that makes you forget there's no bassist.

To better understand this, it's worth listening to 'House Party,' recorded in 1957 in just one day, where Smith is accompanied by exceptional musicians. Art Blakey on drums, Kenny Burrel on guitar, and Lee Morgan on trumpet, just to name three.