Purple Haze: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

Lonnie Smith Trio | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Music Masters Jazz
• ASIN: B000000FPP
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,264 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

2. Up from the Skies

3. Gypsy Eyes

4. Purple Haze/Star Spangled Banner

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for all lovers of funky jazz and/or Jimi Hendrix, June 23, 2004

By 

RE (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Purple Haze: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Audio CD)

Take three outstanding musicians, give them some great Jimi Hendrix tunes as a starting point, and then simmer and cook until done!

This record is terrific, and unlike anything you've ever heard before. The funky organ sounds of Dr. Lonnie Smith (remember, he is *not* the same guy as Lonnie Liston Smith), the jazz-rock jamming guitar sounds of John Abercrombie (who sounds here like he is channeling a mix of Hendrix, Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin)and the funky, always-on-it drums of Smitty Smith. Each song is about 10-12 minutes in length, so if you're looking for breezy, short rock tunes, don't buy this record. But for everyone else, give a listen!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great album -- smooth jazz improv. with a hint of Hendrix, November 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Purple Haze: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Audio CD)

This album is basically the result of three great jazz musicians playing interpretations of famous Hendrix songs. Although none of the songs sound exacly like the Hendrix versions (they weren't meant to), the basic grooves are still there. All of the misicians are incredible, and the sounds they create are beautiful -- from the smooth sound of the guitar, to the brash sound of the Hammond B-3 through a distorted leslie speaker (and not to mention a strong percussion backing). I do not generally listen to jazz music, but I love this album, and I think other Hendrix/Lonnie Smith Trio fans will to. (The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because of the length of the songs -- all four songs are about ten minutes long, but other people may not mind long songs).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Groove-Laden Arrangements, August 7, 2009

By 

Karl W. Nehring (Ostrander, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Purple Haze: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Audio CD)

Although this CD was released as recently as 1995, you may have trouble finding it: I picked up my copy for three bucks (half off the mark-down price of $5.99) in a cutout bin at a bookstore. And no, this is not Lonnie Liston Smith on organ, this is Dr. Lonnie Smith (even Downbeat recently confused these two gentlemen, much to the magazine's embarrassment), backed up by John Abercrombie on guitar and Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums. Abercrombie's electric guitar stylings are a perfect complement to the sound of the B-3 organ, as he has demonstrated on some of his ECM recordings, and the other Smith has a ball flailing away at his drum kit. Their 16:55 version of "Gypsy Eyes" is by itself worth the price of the CD (even if you have to pay a lot more than three bucks!), and they also turn in groove-laden arrangements of "Voodoo Chile," "Up from the Skies," finishing things off with a flourish by melding the anthems "Purple Haze" and "The Star Spangled Banner." Play ball!