Lonnie Smith had the raw skills, imagination, and versatility to play burning originals, bluesy covers of R&B and pop, or skillful adaptations of conventional jazz pieces and show tunes. Why he never established himself as a consistent performer remains a mystery, but this 1970 reissue shows why he excited so many people during his rise. Smith's solos on "Spinning Wheel" and his own composition, "Psychedelic PI," are fleet and furious, boosting the songs from interesting to arresting. He's also impressive on "Seven Steps to Heaven," while the array of phrases, rhythms, and voicings on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" demonstrate a mastery of the organ's pedals and keys rivaling that of the instrument's king, Jimmy Smith.
Artist Biography
Organist Lonnie Smith has often been confused with keyboardist/pianist Lonnie Liston Smith -- and, in fact, more than a few retailers have wrongly assumed that they're one and the same. In the mid-'60s, the Hammond hero earned recognition for his membership in George Benson's classic quartet before going on to play with Lou Donaldson (contributing some memorable solos to the alto saxman's hit 1967 album Alligator Bogaloo) and recording enjoyable dates of his own for Blue Note. For all their accessibility and commercial appeal, funk-influenced Smith sessions like 1968's Think and 1970's Drives showed that he could be quite imaginative. Smith, who later became Dr. Lonnie Smith (for "no particular reason," the same reason he gives for why he always wears a traditional Sikh turban), remained an inspired representative of soul-jazz, releasing his own albums like 1993's Afro Blue and continuing his long association with Donaldson.
The 21st century saw him step up the pace, releasing several albums, including a tribute to Beck, 2003's Boogaloo to Beck; an album of reworked and modernized jazz standards, 2006's Jungle Soul; and 2009's Rise Up! Smith and his trio members -- Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar; Jamire Williams, drums -- continued a relentless and tireless touring and recording schedule; he issued Spiral in 2010 on Palmetto with Matt Balitsaris producing, followed by the live album Healer in 2012. In 2016, Smith delivered Evolution, his first album for Blue Note since 1970's Drives. Produced by Don Was, it featured guest appearances from saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Robert Glasper, and others. Smith enlisted Was as a producer again, this time for a trio date entitled All in My Mind. Released in January of 2018, the set included two originals, a cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" (featuring guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja), Wayne Shorter's "Juju," and Tadd Dameron's "On a Misty Night" in its track list.
The 21st century saw him step up the pace, releasing several albums, including a tribute to Beck, 2003's Boogaloo to Beck; an album of reworked and modernized jazz standards, 2006's Jungle Soul; and 2009's Rise Up! Smith and his trio members -- Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar; Jamire Williams, drums -- continued a relentless and tireless touring and recording schedule; he issued Spiral in 2010 on Palmetto with Matt Balitsaris producing, followed by the live album Healer in 2012. In 2016, Smith delivered Evolution, his first album for Blue Note since 1970's Drives. Produced by Don Was, it featured guest appearances from saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Robert Glasper, and others. Smith enlisted Was as a producer again, this time for a trio date entitled All in My Mind. Released in January of 2018, the set included two originals, a cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" (featuring guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja), Wayne Shorter's "Juju," and Tadd Dameron's "On a Misty Night" in its track list.
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Lonnie Smith tenía las habilidades crudas, la imaginación y la versatilidad para tocar originales ardientes, covers de blues de R&B y pop, o hábiles adaptaciones de piezas de jazz convencionales y temas de espectáculos. El por qué nunca se estableció como un intérprete consistente sigue siendo un misterio, pero esta reedición de 1970 muestra por qué entusiasmó a tanta gente durante su ascenso. Los solos de Smith en "Spinning Wheel" y su propia composición, "Psychedelic PI", son rápidos y furiosos, y hacen que las canciones pasen de ser interesantes a ser llamativas. También es impresionante en "Seven Steps to Heaven", mientras que el conjunto de frases, ritmos y voces en "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" demuestra un dominio de los pedales y teclas del órgano que rivaliza con el del rey del instrumento, Jimmy Smith.
Biografía del artista
El organista Lonnie Smith se ha confundido a menudo con el teclista/pianista Lonnie Liston Smith - y, de hecho, más de unos pocos minoristas han asumido erróneamente que son uno y el mismo. A mediados de los años 60, el héroe de Hammond se ganó el reconocimiento por su pertenencia al cuarteto clásico de George Benson antes de pasar a tocar con Lou Donaldson (contribuyendo algunos solos memorables al exitoso álbum de 1967 del saxofonista alto Alligator Bogaloo) y grabando sus propias fechas de disfrute para Blue Note. A pesar de su accesibilidad y atractivo comercial, las sesiones de Smith con influencia funk, como Think de 1968 y Drives de 1970, demostraron que podía ser bastante imaginativo. Smith, que más tarde se convirtió en el Dr. Lonnie Smith (por "ninguna razón en particular", la misma razón que da por la que siempre lleva un turbante tradicional sikh), siguió siendo un inspirado representante del soul-jazz, lanzando sus propios álbumes como el Afro Blue de 1993 y continuando su larga asociación con Donaldson.
El siglo XXI lo vio acelerar el ritmo, lanzando varios álbumes, incluyendo un tributo a Beck, Boogaloo to Beck de 2003; un álbum de estándares de jazz reelaborados y modernizados, Jungle Soul de 2006 y Rise Up! de 2009. Smith y sus miembros del trío - Jonathan Kreisberg, guitarra; Jamire Williams, batería - continuaron con un programa de giras y grabaciones incesante e incansable; publicó Spiral en 2010 en Palmetto con la producción de Matt Balitsaris, seguido por el álbum en vivo Healer en 2012. En 2016, Smith entregó Evolution, su primer álbum para Blue Note desde la década de 1970, Drives. Producido por Don Was, contó con la participación del saxofonista Joe Lovano, el pianista Robert Glasper y otros. Smith enlistó a Was como productor de nuevo, esta vez para una cita en trío titulada All in My Mind. Lanzado en enero de 2018, el conjunto incluyó dos originales, una versión de "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" de Paul Simon (con la vocalista invitada Alicia Olatuja), "Juju" de Wayne Shorter, y "On a Misty Night" de Tadd Dameron en su lista de canciones.
El siglo XXI lo vio acelerar el ritmo, lanzando varios álbumes, incluyendo un tributo a Beck, Boogaloo to Beck de 2003; un álbum de estándares de jazz reelaborados y modernizados, Jungle Soul de 2006 y Rise Up! de 2009. Smith y sus miembros del trío - Jonathan Kreisberg, guitarra; Jamire Williams, batería - continuaron con un programa de giras y grabaciones incesante e incansable; publicó Spiral en 2010 en Palmetto con la producción de Matt Balitsaris, seguido por el álbum en vivo Healer en 2012. En 2016, Smith entregó Evolution, su primer álbum para Blue Note desde la década de 1970, Drives. Producido por Don Was, contó con la participación del saxofonista Joe Lovano, el pianista Robert Glasper y otros. Smith enlistó a Was como productor de nuevo, esta vez para una cita en trío titulada All in My Mind. Lanzado en enero de 2018, el conjunto incluyó dos originales, una versión de "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" de Paul Simon (con la vocalista invitada Alicia Olatuja), "Juju" de Wayne Shorter, y "On a Misty Night" de Tadd Dameron en su lista de canciones.
Tracklist
A1 Twenty-Five Miles 5:36
A2 Spinning Wheel 7:30
A3 Seven Steps To Heaven 5:43
B1 Psychedelic Pi 6:40
B2 Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf? 10:17
Credits
Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Cuber
Drums – Joe Dukes
Guitar – Larry McGee
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Hubbard
Organ – Lonnie Smith
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on January 2, 1970
Label: Blue Note – BST 84351
Released: 1970
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz
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