Groovin' at Smalls' Paradise

• CLASSIC ALBUMS COLLECTION

• 3-PANEL DIGIPACK EDITION

• 4 STARS PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ

While the electric organ had been used in jazz by Fats Waller, Count Basie, Wild Bill Davis and others, Jimmy Smith’s virtuoso improvisation technique on the Hammond organ helped to popularize it as a jazz and blues instrument. Recorded live in 1957 at the Smalls’ Paradise club in New York, Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise (originally issued on two volumes, both of which are presented on this CD) showcases Smith in a trio format backed by guitar and drums.

PERSONNEL:

• Jimmy Smith - organ
• Eddie McFadden - guitar
• Donald Bailey - drums

Live at Smalls’ Paradise, New York, November 15, 1957

TRACKS:

• 01 After Hours
• 02 My Funny Valentine
• 03 Laura
• 04 Imaginati on
• 05 Just Friends
• 06 Lover Man
• 07 Body and Soul
• 08 Indiana

• TOTAL TIME 79:49 min.

• One of the most renowned jazz photographers of all time, Francis Wolff (1907-1971) was also a record company executive and producer, whose skills were essential to the success of the Blue Note record label. Born Jakob Franz Wolff in Berlin, Germany, he soon became a jazz enthusiast, despite the government ban placed on this type of music after 1933. A Jew, in 1939 he left Berlin, where he had worked as a commercial photographer, and established himself in New York. He began working there with his childhood friend Alfred Lion, who had co-founded Blue Note Records with Max Margulis. The latter soon dropped out of any involvement in the company, and Wolff joined Lion in running it. Wolff took thousands of photographs during the label’s recording sessions and rehearsals. His highly personal visual concept would be forever associated with both Blue Note and jazz as a whole.