After leading a series of notable jam sessions for Blue Note, organist
Jimmy Smith signed a lucrative contract with Verve in 1962. Throughout the remainder of the decade, he recorded songs that ranged from treasures to trash, turning most of the music into bluesy vamps. On this CD, a reissue of the LPs
Got My Mojo Workin' and Hoochie Cooche Man,
Smith's repertoire ranges from
Billy Strayhorn's "Johnny Come Lately" and
Oliver Nelson's "Blues and the Abstract Truth" to "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." In most cases,
Smith's versions bear little resemblance to the original recordings. The earlier set has
Smith featured with both a quartet and an octet arranged by
Oliver Nelson. The remainder of the CD is a big band with
Nelson's charts making the orchestra as exuberant as
Smith's solos. Overall, the CD is not as essential as
Jimmy Smith's better Blue Note dates, but is a worthwhile acquisition for fans of the jazz organ due to his enthusiasm and his ability to uplift the material. ~ Scott Yanow