Although the well-known Jimmy Smith is commonly considered the pre-eminent Hammond B3 specialist within the jazz world, two different Smiths (each unrelated) additionally made their mark in the identical period, taking part in soulful organ licks over a funkafied backbeat. There was Johnny “Hammond” Smith – who modified his title to Johnny Hammond to keep away from being confused with a guitarist of the identical title – and Lonnie Smith. The youngest of the three, Lonnie Smith (born in Lackawanna, New York, on July 3, 1942) made his debut for Columbia Data in 1967 when he was nonetheless a sideman for guitarist George Benson. Subsequently impressing Blue Be aware’s producer Alfred Lion by way of his work with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, Smith defected, releasing this Blue Be aware album, Assume!, in 1969.
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s well-known Englewood Cliffs studio on July 23, 1968, Assume! was a scorching platter of piquant soul-jazz grooves. Because of Jimmy Smith, organ trios had been fashionable within the late 50s, however producer Alfred Lion determined to function Lonnie Smith’s expertise in a bigger setting. He introduced in trumpeter Lee Morgan, who had been Blue Be aware’s horn-playing boy surprise within the 50s, and now, at 30, was nonetheless on the prime of his recreation, together with saxophonist and flutist David “Fathead” Newman (a long-serving member of Ray Charles’ band), along with guitarist Melvin Sparks and drummer Marion Booker, Jr (each of whom had featured on Smith’s Columbia album, Finger Lickin’ Good Soul Organ). On two tracks, the quintet was expanded to an octet with the addition of percussionists Henry “Pucho” Brown, Willie Bivins, and Norberto Apellaniz.
Excessive-octane grooves
Assume!’s opener, “Son Of Ice Bag,” is a vibrant cowl of a 1967 US hit single on Uni Data by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The observe is pushed by Booker’s kinetic drums, and, after the horns state the harmonized important theme over a descending chord sequence, guitarist Melvin Sparks takes a solo that’s sparse however eloquent. He’s adopted by Newman’s roving sax, after which Lee Morgan, whose solo reveals a extra extrovert character. After a reprise of the principle theme, Lonnie Smith lastly will get his probability with an prolonged spell within the highlight. His solo nearly begins tentatively, however steadily he ratchets up the joy with a sequence of soulful motifs and fleet-fingered keyboard gymnastics.
The laidback class that defines “Son Of Ice Bag” is changed by a pulsating, Latin-tinged Smith-penned tune titled “Call Of The Wild,” that includes a trio of busy percussionists. It begins, although, with a sluggish, dreamy intro, the place for 2 minutes Newman’s pastoral flute, Morgan’s muted horn, and delicate guitar shimmers from Sparks blissfully entwine. Then comes a thunderstorm of drums and percussion saying a high-octane Latin groove that ultimately results in an exhilarating trumpet solo from Lee Morgan.
“Think” is Smith’s organ-soaked tackle soul queen Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit for Atlantic Data. The observe was additionally issued as a single for Blue Be aware, with “Son Of Ice Bag” on the flipside.
An auspicious launch
Lonnie Smith’s tackle the standard youngsters’s nursery rhyme “Three Blind Mice” takes its cue from Artwork Blakey & The Jazz Messengers’ 1962 jazz model, with its infectious harmonized horn melody. After the principle theme, it breaks out right into a sprightly, loose-limbed soul-jazz groove that includes solos from all the principle protagonists.
Assume! performs out with “Slouchin’,” a nonchalant, mid-paced groove peppered with Latin percussion. Sparks takes the primary solo, adopted by Morgan, who’s extra meditative on this observe. Then comes Newman with an athletic passage of strident tenor blowing earlier than Lonnie Smith finds himself within the scorching seat (although his contribution is deft and super-cool).
Launched in early 1969, Assume! rose to No.46 in Billboard’s checklist of the bestselling American R&B albums throughout a four-week keep within the chart. Regardless of the album’s success, it wasn’t the organist’s most commercially profitable Blue Be aware launch (its follow-up, 1970’s Transfer Your Hand, did even higher, rising to No.24 on the identical chart), nevertheless it was however an auspicious launch and introduced 26-year-old Lonnie Smith as a brand new hero of the Hammond B3 organ.
Purchase Lonnie Smith’s music on vinyl or CD now.
