Search - Jimmy Smith :: Dot Com Blues

Jimmy Smith Jams with Blues Artists

F. Norman Vickers | Pensacola, FL United States | 05/12/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Known primarily as a jazz organist, Jimmy Smith plays with blues artists Dr. John, Etta James, B. B. King and contemporary blues vocalist-guitarist Keb' Mo' on "dot com blues," Smith's newest recording. In fact, his first recording in five years. Smith's performance on the Hammond B3 is superb sixty minutes of good-time blues music.Smith teams with Dr. John on three numbers, Dr. John's own "Only in It for the Money; " an instrumental, " Mr. Johnson" attributed to Smith and Dr. John; and my favorite cut, Willie Dixon's " I Just Wanna Make Love to You" with Etta James on vocals. Taj Mahal solos on vocals and guitar on his own composition "Strut." Keb' Mo' performs vocal and guitar chores on his own " Over & Over." The numbers with the guest artists have an expanded group including saxophone and tumpet/ flugelhorn whereas about half the numbers have Jimmy Smith on organ accompanied by Russell Malone on guitar, Reggie McBride on bass guitar and Harvey Mason on drums. Only Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," performed here with Smith's small group and string bass master John Clayton substituting for Reggie McBride, is outside the genre. It is respectfully rendered by Jimmy Smith and group, as well.It is said that blues music can cure the blues, but you don't have to have the blues to enjoy this album. Here's hoping Jimmy Smith doesn't wait another five years for his next CD."

At Age 76, THE Hammond Master Delivers Again!

John McKinna | Key Largo, Florida United States | 03/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can one say about Jimmy Smith, the Hammond B-3 Lion In Winter (age 76, by my count) that hasn't been said already? Perhaps a brief rundown of accolades for the uninitiated: a major instrumental star since the early 1950s; almost unarguably THE originator of the Hammond organ soul-jazz style that was so popular in the early sixties (Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, and Jack MacDuff all owe their living to Smith); the man who essentially validated the Hammond organ as a viable jazz/blues instrument (very few serious keyboardists had based their sound on it before him); and not just the first, but perhaps the best organist in the jazz-blues idiom EVER. Period. Dot Com Blues is a stellar Jimmy Smith set. The Hammond master has aged well. The esteem in which he is held is revealed by the company he keeps: B.B. King, Etta James, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo. Stock bandmates on this album are the likes of Russell Malone (Diana Krall's superb guitarist--an instrumental star in his own right) and Harvey Mason, session drummer par excellence--remember George Benson's "Weekend In LA" album, with it's kickbutt version of "On Broadway"? Harvey Mason was the drummer. It's not necessary to rhapsodize about the great guest-star cuts. Fantastic, as one would expect. What I will mention are two great little Jimmy Smith original instrumental funk-blues cuts, featuring Malone (guitar), McBride (bass), and Mason )drums: "8 Counts For Rita" and the title cut, "Dot Com Blues". Check 'em out. Great playing, and compositionally interesting. Jimmy Smith, from the git-go, was always more than a blues-riffing party organist. Listen to the great version of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" here. Jimmy Smith is still cookin', and still, after fifty years, looks out at the world with that wonderful, charming smile from his album covers. Thanks for all the matchless music you've given us over the years, Mr. Smith . . . and play on."

Jazz, blues and R &B make a great mix on this CD

Edward Alexander Gerster | South Miami, FL USA | 08/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmy Smith has been coaxing soulful tunes out of the Hammond B3 organ for so long that he has truly become the standard against which others are judged. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed one of his albums, or cd's as much as this. Original compositions such as "Dot Com Blues," "8 Counts For Rita," and "Tuition Blues" are truly excellent, and his arrangement of "C C Rider" is truly something to experience. Smith's rendition of Ellington's "Mood Indigo" is also something not to be missed!The addition of B.B. King on guitar and vocals for "Three O'Clock Blues" makes for a collaboration which is only out done by "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" featuring an all star line-up including Etta James leading the vocals and Dr. John on electric piano. A nicely conceived and executed CD, that has a traditional blues feel and you won't get tired of hearing."