Stefon Harris "The Grand Unification Theory", Jimmy Smith "A New Sound A New Star", Jimmy Smith "Back at the Chicken Shack", Jimmy Smith "Groovin at Smalls Paradise"

STEFON HARRIS - THE GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY

Year: 2003

1.Prologe [5:34]8 Mb

2.The Birth of Time [6:20]9.1 Mb

3.Velvet Couch [5:15]7.5 Mb

4.Transition [1:11]1.7 Mb

5.Corridor of Elusive Dreams [2:41]3.9 Mb

6.Escape to Quite Desperation [6:22]9.1 Mb

7.Song of the Whispering Banshee [7:37]10.9 Mb

8.March of the Angels [5:09]7.3 Mb

9.The Mystic Messenger [6:46]9.7 Mb

10.Rebirth [6:34]9.4 Mb

11.The Grand Unification Theory [10:17]14.8 Mb

12.Intro Eqilogue [1:07]1.6 Mb

13.Epilogue [5:03]7.2 Mb

Download Stefon Harris - The Grand Unification Theory (mp3)

Stefon Harris "The Grand Unification Theory" Album Review

a spectacular achievement
read the linear notes and you think of mingus' black saint and the sinner lady, there's a story here, and maybe you want to fit the story to the music, and if that works, fine. but if you're like me and the story doesn't fit the music, then toss out the story and listen to the music, instead of forcing a fit.

there's one section that sounds like herbie hancock's watermelon man. it cooks. but that's not where the music is going either. that's just part of it.

g.u.t. was composed by stefon harris, and therein lies the genuis. brilliant orchestration. rather than worrying about grand theories and how they work, or mingus' black saint as a blueprint, or whether or not this is a jazz suite, tone poem, or one man's contribution to orchestral music, let the music play and take in the experience.

---

JIMMY SMITH - A NEW SOUND A NEW STAR

Year: 1956

1.The Way You Look Tonight [5:02]7.2 Mb

2.You Get Cha [4:23]6.3 Mb

3.Midnight Sun [4:25]6.3 Mb

4.Lady Be Good [5:46]8.3 Mb

5.The High and the Mighty [4:21]6.2 Mb

6.But not for Me [4:29]6.4 Mb

7.The Preacher [4:34]6.5 Mb

8.Tenderly [3:55]5.6 Mb

9.Joy [3:16]4.6 Mb

10.The Champ [8:35]12.4 Mb

11.Bayou [4:52]7 Mb

12.Deep Purple [7:14]10.4 Mb

13.Moonlight in Vermont [4:32]6.5 Mb

14.Ready N Able [6:28]9.3 Mb

15.Turquoise [4:12]6 Mb

16.Bubbis [4:32]6.5 Mb

17.Gone with the Wind [2:56]4.2 Mb

18.Jamey [6:00]8.6 Mb

19.My Funny Valentine [6:20]9.1 Mb

20.Slightly Monkish [5:27]7.9 Mb

21.I Can't Give You Anything but Love [4:47]6.8 Mb

22.Judo Mambo [5:31]8 Mb

23.Willow Weep for Me [5:42]8.2 Mb

24.Lover Come Back to Me [6:41]9.6 Mb

25.Well You Neednt [6:20]9.1 Mb

26.Fiddlin the Minors [5:09]7.3 Mb

27.Autumn Leaves [4:43]6.8 Mb

28.I Cover the Waterfront [3:37]5.1 Mb

Download Jimmy Smith - A New Sound A New Star (mp3)

Jimmy Smith "A New Sound A New Star" Album Review

He's just getting used to the B3 on disc one
Disc one you can tell Jimmy is just figuring out the difference between the piano and the B3, but it picks up alot on the second disc. I was a little disappointed the first time I listened to it because nearly every one of the 40 or so other disc I have by him are outstanding, so my expectations are always high, but it's still great and disc 2 alone is worth the price of the set. Definitely pick up Grooving at Small's first if you are trying to decide between the two.

---

JIMMY SMITH - BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK

Year: 1960

1.Back at the Chicken Shack [8:05]11.6 Mb

2.When I Grow Too Old to Dream [9:54]14.2 Mb

3.Minor Chant [7:33]10.8 Mb

4.Messy Bessie [12:30]17.9 Mb

5.On the Sunny Side of the Street [5:46]8.3 Mb

Download Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (mp3)

Jimmy Smith "Back at the Chicken Shack" Album Review

Swinging Organ grooves
Heres the fabulous Jimmy Smith playing Hammond B3 and driving a top notch band along. The title track is drenched in the blues, and after the theme statement Smith plays a superb two and half minutes solo. Then of course there is Kenny Burrell on Guitar and Stanley Turrentine on Tenor Sax who are no slouches themselves.

On "When I grow too old to dream" Jimmy Smith lets Turrentine take the first solo and after a subtle start to his Sax solo he builds up quite a head of steam. After a short Smith solo Turrentine is back for more with another solo. Its that sort of album. I'm guessing that they were having great fun in the studio when they recorded this. The rest of the album maintains the same high standard of the first two tracks.

The album was recorded in 1960 and of course has another of those classic Blue Note album covers. The original sleeve notes by Ira Gitler give plenty of background information on the album including how the album cover came about. A great recording.

Video Jimmy Smith / Mark Whitfield - Back At The Chicken Shack

The great Jimmy Smith performs the blues number "Back At The Chicken Shack" (and not "The very thought of you" as erroneously labeled on video), aided expertly by Mark Whitfield who gets the chance to display his impressive chops on guitar, Jimmy Woode on bass and Dowell Davis on drums. Germany, 2004.

---

JIMMY SMITH - GROOVIN AT SMALLS PARADISE

Year: 1957

1.Imagination [7:56]11.4 Mb

2.Walkin [11:41]16.8 Mb

3.My Funny Valentine [11:03]15.8 Mb

4.It's Only A Paper Moon [10:27]15 Mb

5.I Can't Give You Anything but Love [7:00]10.1 Mb

6.Laura [10:28]15 Mb

7.Indiana [15:40]22.5 Mb

8.Body and Soul [10:03]14.5 Mb

9.The Champ [13:46]19.8 Mb

10.Lover Man [7:28]10.7 Mb

11.Slightly Monkish [6:59]10.1 Mb

12.After Hours [10:58]15.7 Mb

13.Just Friends [6:29]9.3 Mb

Download Jimmy Smith - Groovin at Smalls Paradise (mp3)

Jimmy Smith "Groovin at Smalls Paradise" Album Review

The Emperor in all its glory!!
This is Jimmy's best album, my all time favourite. This is the real deal: just organ, guitar & drums. And most tracks are 6 min and more, so you get a lot of LOUD organ by the man. To me the best track in this session is Laura, breathtaking. This album will make reevaluate the stature of jimmy as a soloist; he is right there with the best of his time: trane, ornette, sonny. A masterpiece! One of my all time favourite Blue Notes.

---