Dot Com Blues

Jimmy Smith

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 9, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000050J47
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,634 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Organist Jimmy Smith's Blue Note and Verve back-catalog is the stuff of legend, and the man plays as well on Dot Com Blues as he ever has. But this session is more than another Jimmy Smith album. At times you wonder where Jimmy is among all the accompanying star power, but if you listen, he is still there, rubbing the honeyed keys as B.B. King, Etta James, Dr. John, and Keb Mo wail and work it. Smith shows he is still the master of the blueswalk in "8 Counts for Rita," "C.C. Rider," "Tuition Blues," and the title track, as well as on a sumptuously slow version of "Mood Indigo." Here, Smith solos with gritty abandon in a small-group setting with such notables as guitarist Russell Malone, drummer Harvey Mason, and percussionist Lenny Castro. Smith is more often felt than heard elsewhere, though, and maybe that is understandable when Etta James lets rips on a wobbly version of "I Just Wanna Make Love to You." The opening "Only in It for the Money" is better balanced, perhaps because Dr. John understands the value of less-is-more and, as a fellow keyboardist, doesn't want to step on Smith's celebrated toes. Finally, B.B. King helps make "Three O'Clock Blues" a rocking blowout that transports the listener back to some rock & blues tent meeting circa 1956. Dot Com Blues proves that Jimmy Smith can still raise the rug and do what he does best, star power in attendance or not. --Ken Micallef

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Champ Returns With Dot Com Blues, March 19, 2001

By	J. E FELL "boogaloojef" (Carterville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The master of the Hammond B-3 returns with a new compact disc. One part jazz + one part blues + one part groove = an excellent disc. This is Jimmy Smith's first new disc in a while and I was eagerly anticipating it. I am a big fan and have most of his discs that are in print. The set is varied, some of the cuts are instrumental and some feature vocals. There are also numbers performed with a small combo as well as with a horn section. This session also features a number of guests including; Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Etta James, B.B. King and Keb Mo' on vocals. His small combo features underrated guitarist Russell Malone. The music is mixture of stone blues, jazzier numbers and some greasy funk. My favorites include the title track as well as "8 Counts For Rita" and "Mr. Johnson which features Dr. John on piano. My favorite vocal number is "Three O' Clock Blues" with B.B. King on guitar and vocals. This cut makes me wish they had cut an entire cd together like King's recent collaboration with Eric Clapton. B.B.'s guitar is jazzy enough to mesh well with Smith's organ playing. The other guest vocalists also are impressive and it sounds as if fun was had by all. If you prefer your blues a little more jazzy, you will certainly enjoy this disc.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HE'S BACK-THE ORIGINAL JIMMY SMITH WE ALL KNEW!, January 17, 2001

By	JERRY A LONN (SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK United States) - See all my reviews

I just bought this CD. I haven't purchased one of his CDs in a long time since he went to playing progressive jazz way out in left field. This CD is so great I can't turn the stereo up loud enough to get inside it. He's playing the way we knew him to play when he was on top. He gets down & dirty & funky. He's got a great horn section & some super vocalists & guests musicians. I love every track on it. If you're an R&B/Jazz organ fan, you've got to get this CD for your collection. You'll love it! I guarantee it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jimmy Smith Jams with Blues Artists, May 12, 2001

By	F. Norman Vickers (Pensacola, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Known primarily as a jazz organist, Jimmy Smith plays with blues artists Dr. John, Etta James, B. B. King and contemporary blues vocalist-guitarist Keb' Mo' on "dot com blues," Smith's newest recording. In fact, his first recording in five years. Smith's performance on the Hammond B3 is superb sixty minutes of good-time blues music.

Smith teams with Dr. John on three numbers, Dr. John's own "Only in It for the Money; " an instrumental, " Mr. Johnson" attributed to Smith and Dr. John; and my favorite cut, Willie Dixon's " I Just Wanna Make Love to You" with Etta James on vocals. Taj Mahal solos on vocals and guitar on his own composition "Strut." Keb' Mo' performs vocal and guitar chores on his own " Over & Over." The numbers with the guest artists have an expanded group including saxophone and tumpet/ flugelhorn whereas about half the numbers have Jimmy Smith on organ accompanied by Russell Malone on guitar, Reggie McBride on bass guitar and Harvey Mason on drums. Only Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," performed here with Smith's small group and string bass master John Clayton substituting for Reggie McBride, is outside the genre. It is respectfully rendered by Jimmy Smith and group, as well.

It is said that blues music can cure the blues, but you don't have to have the blues to enjoy this album. Here's hoping Jimmy Smith doesn't wait another five years for his next CD.