Jimmy Smith's Greatest Album
R. Braun | Madison, WIsconsin | 08/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Smith is backed here by an orchestra arranged and conducted by the great Oliver Nelson (and Claude Ogerman). He begins with a take on the classic "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" followed by
the title song "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" that will transport you as it moves, moves, moves along! Jimmy gets to where he sounds like he has 10 fingers on each hand, the band plays these lush beautiful brassy crescendos while he and theyswing and swing away.
After that it's almost like slowing down to get to the more
conventional Smith material like "John Brown's Body"and at the
end "Bluesette." Wedged in between is a lovely take on "Wives
Lovers". But that is side two and, one who knows this from
vinyl days, seldom got to those cuts.
Nelson deserves special mention for the now famous music he did around that time entitled "Berlin Dialouge for Orchestra" (unfortunately unavailable on CD) That work contains a passage
called "Check Point Charlie" that really should be right on
this CD after "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Nelson was a great musician, songwriter, conductor, arranger
who died too young (see "Blues and the Abstract Truth").
So, imagine some lush orchestral music on the brassy side and
imagine Jimmy Smith doing just his thing and being in perfect
synch with that sound. Every artist has a best album I suppose.
This is Jimmy Smith's and it seems to need saying here. Judging
by the lack of reviews submitted, most have either not heard of
this or have, but pass due to the high price. Well it's 8/4/06
some 42 years since the now deceased Smith recorded it, and it
is still well worth the listen."
My Favorite Jimmy Smith
Thomas J. Moore | Troy, MI USA | 10/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I do not believe that this CD is currently available. I purchased it from iTunes. I have listened to this album several times and have concluded that it is my favorite Jimmy Smith album. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is superb. "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" is also excellent. I also enjoy Riz Ortolani's main theme from "Women of the World." The other selections on this album are all excellent. If you like Jimmy Smith, you'll love this album."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1