A follow-up to the mostly heated performances of
Damn!, this CD features organist
Jimmy Smith sticking to ballads and slower material. There is a sextet rendition of "Stolen Moments" (with both
Roy Hargrove and
Nicholas Payton on trumpets); duets with both trumpeters, bassist
Christian McBride, and guitarist
Mark Whitfield; a trio; a quartet; and solo organ renditions of "Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" and "What a Wonderful World." Despite the constant changing of instrumentation, the results (although pleasant) are uneventful and somewhat predictable. Good for late-night background music rather than for close listening. ~ Scott Yanow