Groove & Grease; Soul Jazz from the fifties.
The combination of the Hammond organ and bigband was quite a rare phenomenon. After all, it is not easy to adapt the instrument with its impressive, variegated sound to the layered brass and reeds. Still, popular organ players like Jimmy Smith and Shirley Scott succesfully took on the challenge, led by producer Creed Taylor and sound technician Rudy van Gelder. Today’s playlist features a selection including Smith, Scott, Jimmy McGriff, Lloyd Mayers, Rhoda Scott and Richard “Groove” Holmes.
Playlist:
Jimmy Smith, Mission Impossible (Livin’ It Up, Verve 1968)
Jimmy McGriff, Avenue C (The Big Band: A Tribute To Basie, Solid State 1966)
Duke Ellington met Wild Bill Davis, Blues For New Orleans (New Orleans Suite, Atlantic 1970)
Lloyd G. Mayers, Jacky-Ing (A Taste Of Honey, United Artists 1962)
Merl Saunders, My Train (Soul Groovin’, America 1968)
Gerald Wilson met Richard “Groove” Holmes, Blues For Yna Yna (You Better Believe It, Pacific Jazz 1961)
Ray Charles, Mister C., (Genius + Soul = Jazz, Impulse 1961)
Lou Bennett, Pentacostal Feeling (Echoes Of My Church, Bel Air 1964)
Rhoda Scott, Mach 2 (In New York, Barclay 1976)
Brother Jack McDuff, Once In A Lifetime (The Dynamic Jack McDuff, Prestige 1964)
Jimmy Smith, The Blues And The Abstract Truth (Hoochie Coochie Man, Verve 1966)
Shirley Scott, For Dancers Only (Roll ‘M: Shirley Scott Plays The Big Bands, Impulse 1966)
picture: Shirley Scott
