Jimmy Smith - Four Classic Albums (The Sermon! / Crazy Baby! / Jimmy Smith's House Party / Midnight Special) (Digitally Remastered) (2018)

AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD second set release from Jimmy Smith, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details 'The Sermon'; 'Crazy! Baby'; 'House Party' and 'Midnight Special' We don't think we would find many detractors if we were to say that our latest guest artist is probably the most famous jazz Hammond organist in the world. Mr Jimmy Smith, or to give him his rightful name The Incredible Jimmy Smith spent his formative years in the early 1950s in R&B bands playing piano and dabbling with the Hammond organ. After hearing Wild Bill Davis he made the permanent switch to the Hammond and was soon discovered by Blue Note supremo Alfred Lion. Smith was incredibly prolific, (hmm, perhaps that's where the name came from?), recording over forty sessions for Blue Note in a period of just eight years. He made many classic albums and we at AVID think we have snagged four of his best! Here's a few of the names on these swinging platters. Tina Brooks, Lou Donaldson, George Coleman, Lee Morgan, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey, Curtis Fuller, Donald Bailey and Stanley Turrentine.