Search - Jimmy Smith :: Retrospective

Retrospective
Jimmy Smith
Retrospective
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #3
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #4

The classic room-warming sound of the Hammond organ has so ingrained itself in the jazz consciousness--and Jimmy Smith has figured so prominently in that ingraining process--that some fans may forget that the B-3 master ha...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Jimmy Smith
Title: Retrospective
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Blue Note Records
Release Date: 10/19/2004
Album Type: Box set, Original recording remastered
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Styles: Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo, Bebop
Number of Discs: 4
SwapaCD Credits: 4
UPCs: 724347316524, 724347316555, 724347316524

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The classic room-warming sound of the Hammond organ has so ingrained itself in the jazz consciousness--and Jimmy Smith has figured so prominently in that ingraining process--that some fans may forget that the B-3 master had all manner of sounds in his bag of tricks when he started out. Retrospective, a choice four-disc sampling of his work for Blue Note from the mid '50s to early '60s, celebrates the variety of his attack: the rough swipes and charming clip-clopped phrases, the convulsive chords and breakneck notes. Bringing his profound blues sensibility to originals, standards, and bop, Smith started out and has spent much of his career leading a trio including drums and guitar, a format that gave him the freedom to wail (and to showcase his incomparable skills on foot pedals). But he scored some of his greatest triumphs in expanded groups that included members of the close-knit Blue Note family: trumpeter Lee Morgan, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, guitarist Kenny Burrell, drummer Art Blakey, and, on expanded tunes such as the consistently rewarding, 20-minute "The Sermon," neglected tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks. After leaving Blue Note for Verve, Smith elevated his commercial profile with big-band orchestrations, movie themes, and superstar summits, but as ear-opening as some of those recordings are, they lack the seat-of-the-pants magic and spiritual thrust of these inspired tracks. --Lloyd Sachs
 

CD Reviews

The Blue Note years
Blues Bro | Lakewood, Colorado USA | 10/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"4 CD's remastered by Ron McMaster, with the best of Jimmy Smith at Blue Note records, from his first session up to his very last session in the 80's. Specially worthy are the first 2 CD's including a bunch of material that is out of print, including Jimmy's first albums. I am really happy overall with the track selection, I'd probably change one or two: 'Flamingo' is really a Lee Morgan feature, and the albums 'Cool Blues' and 'Six views of the blues' are not represented here'; but this still is the definitive Jimmy Smith compilation. Booklet includes session details and essay on the tracks that are included here. Pricey, but it is worth your money."
Where it began on the B3 for Jazz and Blues alike
Earsby | Norman, OK United States | 12/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was reading this month's Down Beat and Jimmy Smith has (finally) made it to the Hall Of Fame. This Retrospective is an excellent place to start for new listeners or for Jimmy Smith fanatics alike. Every cut on the 4 CDs are worthy of inclusion and there are some great ones included for Jazz or Blues fans. I'm listening to my copy right now. I just got finished listening to the "Duel" between Jimmy and Art Blakey, a 10 minute duet between B3 and drums that is alone worth the price of admission. This boxed set includes a nice booklet with a bio of Smith's career and the dates of recording of the songs, etc.



This boxed set would make an excellent gift idea or just a great way to add some seminal organ Jazz/Blues to your collection. The people who this would probably appeal to are keyboard afficionados, Jazz history buffs, any Hammond B3 organ fans, and even anyone who enjoys the awesome sound of that classic B3 organ/Leslie speaker combination. After all, you might as well get some inspiration from the source, because Jimmy Smith is the first and most important B3 Organ player from the 50s to the 80s. He is a "god" of the B3 in Jazz."