Retrospective [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Jimmy Smith

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 5, 2004
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0002Y4TUQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,983 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The classic room-warming sound of the Hammond organ has so ingrained itself in the jazz consciousness--and Jimmy Smith has figured so prominently in that ingraining process--that some fans may forget that the B-3 master had all manner of sounds in his bag of tricks when he started out. Retrospective, a choice four-disc sampling of his work for Blue Note from the mid '50s to early '60s, celebrates the variety of his attack: the rough swipes and charming clip-clopped phrases, the convulsive chords and breakneck notes. Bringing his profound blues sensibility to originals, standards, and bop, Smith started out and has spent much of his career leading a trio including drums and guitar, a format that gave him the freedom to wail (and to showcase his incomparable skills on foot pedals). But he scored some of his greatest triumphs in expanded groups that included members of the close-knit Blue Note family: trumpeter Lee Morgan, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, guitarist Kenny Burrell, drummer Art Blakey, and, on expanded tunes such as the consistently rewarding, 20-minute "The Sermon," neglected tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks. After leaving Blue Note for Verve, Smith elevated his commercial profile with big-band orchestrations, movie themes, and superstar summits, but as ear-opening as some of those recordings are, they lack the seat-of-the-pants magic and spiritual thrust of these inspired tracks. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blue Note years, October 27, 2004

By	Blues Bro "bluesbro" (Lakewood, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

4 CD's remastered by Ron McMaster, with the best of Jimmy Smith at Blue Note records, from his first session up to his very last session in the 80's. Specially worthy are the first 2 CD's including a bunch of material that is out of print, including Jimmy's first albums. I am really happy overall with the track selection, I'd probably change one or two: 'Flamingo' is really a Lee Morgan feature, and the albums 'Cool Blues' and 'Six views of the blues' are not represented here'; but this still is the definitive Jimmy Smith compilation. Booklet includes session details and essay on the tracks that are included here. Pricey, but it is worth your money.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where it began on the B3 for Jazz and Blues alike, December 9, 2006

By	Earsby (Norman, OK United States) - See all my reviews

I was reading this month's Down Beat and Jimmy Smith has (finally) made it to the Hall Of Fame. This Retrospective is an excellent place to start for new listeners or for Jimmy Smith fanatics alike. Every cut on the 4 CDs are worthy of inclusion and there are some great ones included for Jazz or Blues fans. I'm listening to my copy right now. I just got finished listening to the "Duel" between Jimmy and Art Blakey, a 10 minute duet between B3 and drums that is alone worth the price of admission. This boxed set includes a nice booklet with a bio of Smith's career and the dates of recording of the songs, etc.

This boxed set would make an excellent gift idea or just a great way to add some seminal organ Jazz/Blues to your collection. The people who this would probably appeal to are keyboard afficionados, Jazz history buffs, any Hammond B3 organ fans, and even anyone who enjoys the awesome sound of that classic B3 organ/Leslie speaker combination. After all, you might as well get some inspiration from the source, because Jimmy Smith is the first and most important B3 Organ player from the 50s to the 80s. He is a "god" of the B3 in Jazz.