Lonnie Smith - Finger Lickin' Good (1967) [Hi-Res]

Although it predates his classic soul-jazz dates for Blue Note by a few years, Lonnie Smith's debut LP, Finger-Lickin' Good, boasts a deeply funky groove quite unusual for the mid-'60s, a period when few jazz musicians acknowledged the influence of more commercial musical pursuits, let alone introduced such elements into their own work. Aided and abetted by an all-star lineup including guitarist George Benson, saxophonist King Curtis, and trumpeter Blue Mitchell, Smith keeps the performances brisk and bold, galvanized by stiletto-sharp bursts of organ. Cuts like "Hola Muneca" and "Can't You Just Feel It" possess a raw vitality quite uncommon for the moment in question, and while it's disingenuous to call Finger-Lickin' Good groundbreaking, it's definitely a record ahead of its time.

Tracklist:
01 - Lonnie Smith - Hola Muneca (2:53)
02 - Lonnie Smith - Minor Chant (3:24)
03 - Lonnie Smith - Can't You Just Feel It (2:51)
04 - Lonnie Smith - Jeannine (3:25)
05 - Lonnie Smith - Sideman (4:47)
06 - Lonnie Smith - Keep Talkin' (2:21)
07 - Lonnie Smith - My Babe (3:25)
08 - Lonnie Smith - In the Beginning (2:54)
09 - Lonnie Smith - Lonnie's Blues (2:38)
10 - Lonnie Smith - Say Stuff (2:54)
11 - Lonnie Smith - Our Miss Brooks (3:05)