Jimmy Smith - Home Cookin' (1961)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2003 Rudy Van Gelder Edition with 5 bonus tracks.

The advertisement below lists this album as "an 'all blues' date" and that's the best way describe it: blues and/or bluesy bordering on soulful R&B. And lots of it. It always amazes me to hear Smith play the bass lines with his feet (just listen to Sugar Hill or Gracie, for example, literally a walking bass lines!). The other outstanding performance here comes from guitarist Kenny Burrell - nothing but quality solos throughout. Pair with any of Smith's other early '60s Blue Note releases such as Midnight Special and Back At The Chicken Shack (1963)

The tracks were compiled from three recording dates:

• Tuesday, July 15, 1958
• Sunday, May 24, 1959
• Tuesday, June 16, 1959

All in the infamous Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Original album liner notes by Ira Gitler.

Smith - organ
Percy France - tenor saxophone
Kenny Burrell - guitar
Donald Bailey - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• Stereo Review: "his most listenable album to date"
• CashBox: "One of the most evocative of jazz organs."
• Downbeat (★★★★): "one must admit that the album is a cooker (no pun intended) from start to finish."
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★½
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: My top tracks are Sugar Hill, a cover of the Ray Charles hit I Got A Woman, Messin' Around, and Come On Baby (which contains Smith's best solo on the disc).

Bonus tracks: An alternate take of Motorin' Around, plus four cuts that didn't appear on the original 1961 release: Apostrophe, Groanin' and two takes of Since I Fell For You. All fit perfectly in this bluesfest. Apostrophe is particularly a great listen because it sounds like the musicians are having a blast.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

The Best of Jimmy Smith (1988)	Midnight Special (1961)
Keep On Comin' (1983)	Houseparty (1958)
Back At The Chicken Shack (1963)	The Sermon! (1958)