Jimmy Smith - The Cat (1964/2014) Hi-Res

If you know someone who says they don't get Jimmy Smith, just play them this album. It is consummate Hammond B3 playing with the added vibrancy of Lalo Schifrin's arrangements for big band. 'Basin Street Blues' eschews 1960s' sophistication, while the appropriately super cool 'Delon's Blues' is dedicated to the French actor Alain Delon, who Smith had befriended while on tour in Europe in 1963. Reviewers upon both the album's release and since have been somewhat patronizing in accusing Smith of being 'too commercial,' as though this is some kind of crime and if he were a real jazz artist he would avoid such a thing. This is a joyful, fabulous album that probably got more people listening to jazz than many of its contemporaries.

Tracks:

01. Theme From 'joy House' 04:45.40
02. The Cat (From 'joy House') 03:28.92
03. Basin Street Blues 04:04.69
04. Main Title Form 'the Carpetbaggers' 04:02.68
05. Chicago Serenade 04:01.39
06. St. Louis Blues 03:21.76
07. Delon's Blues 04:50.93
08. Blues In The Night 04:45.48

Personnel:

Arranged By, Conductor – Lalo Schifrin
Bass – George Duvivier
Bass Trombone – Tony Studd
Drums – Grady Tate
French Horn – Bill Correa, Earl Chapin, Jim Buffington, Ray Alonge
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Organ – Jimmy Smith
Percussion – Phil Kraus
Trombone – Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green
Trumpet – Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Snooky Young*, Jimmy Maxwell, Marky Markowitz, Thad Jones
Tuba – Don Butterfield