Hammond great Jimmy Smith RIP
 

Jimmy Smith was one of my idols as a teenager. His bluesy, jazzy, down and dirty organ playing is just classic. He invented a new language, and tons of folks are still imitating him 40 years later.

My band played Chicken Shack at a local blues club in Miami (Tobacco Road) a couple weeks ago. It seems like he's always in the back of my mind.

You're the greatest, Jimmy.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...eople_smith_dc

i'm not incredibly familiar with his work, but i have a couple of CDs worth and he rocked. RIP, Jimmy!

Would you recommend anything in particular by him? I've never heard anything by him, but I am interested, especially after reading such a glowing summary of his music.

i have this and can highly recommend it:

Root Down: Jimmy Smith Live!
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...41261pzrq8.jpg

the only other thing i have is this more recent offering:

Jimmy Smith - dot com blues
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...42927yhhz9.jpg

and here's another fun release for hammond b3 fans:

Organ-Ized: An All-Star Tribute to the Hammond B3
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...902345f8ik.jpg

I saw him at the House of Blues a few years ago. He appeared to be very drunk, and kept saying stuff like, "OK, now I want all the women in the room... to take their shirts off." :D Even in that state, though... man, he could play.

RIP Jimmy. We've lost one of the greats.