Track Listing

1. Sermon
2. J.O.S.
3. Flamingo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31572 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Album Description
The 20-minute title tune is a priceless meditation on the blues. Sidemen include Lee Morgan Lou Donaldson, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell and Art Blakey. This CD features the album in its original form.

LEE MORGAN, trumpet; LOU DONALDSON, GEORGE COLEMAN, alto saxophones; TINA BROOKS, tenor saxophone; KENNY BURRELL, EDDIE McFADDEN, guitars; JIMMY SMITH, organ; ART BLAKEY, DONALD BAILEY, drums.

Amazon.com
Jimmy Smith put the Hammond B-3 organ on the jazz map for good in the 1950s. The Sermon, dating from 1958, is among his best recordings, featuring the exceptional lineup of trumpeter Lee Morgan, altoist Lou Donaldson, tenorman Tina Brooks, guitarist Kenny Burrell, drummer Art Blakey, and others. Smith's smooth, vibratoless sound perfectly suits the nimble and prodding leads of the player as he touches on R&B, soul, blues and, of course, gospel. This brings us to "The Sermon," which is reason enough to seek this gem out. Smith's group takes the title tune out for a 20-minute, fully improvised, slow-blues stroll, during which each player shares the spotlight. The soul-stirring feeling set in motion by Smith rubs off on the other musicians to make this tune and album a defining moment in organ jazz, and even in soul music. The Sermon stands as a sparkling gem in the Rudy Van Gelder reissue series. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

"The Sermon" Answers Our Prayers
"The Sermon" is Jimmy Smith's best album bar none. Restored to the catalog with the RVG series, hopefully this most classic of jazz organ albums will never go out of print again. An amazing array of musicians joins Smith on this session, including Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, Lou Donaldson, the under-recognized genius Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell and Donald Bailey. Buyers should be aware that this RVG version differs drastically from the original CD issue. Gone are the wonderful bonus tracks "S' Wonderful," "Blue Room," "Lover Man," "Confirmation" and "Au Private." Instead, the RVG edition matches the original vinyl sequencing -- the tracks are "The Sermon," "J.O.S." and "Flamingo." The disc is still terrific since the classic title-track, "The Sermon," which clocks in at more than twenty minutes, is one of jazz's great extended compositions, even if it is only a fiery jam session and not an avant-garde flight. Simply because of this song, "The Sermon" deserves a place in any jazz collection, beginner or advanced. The fact that the RVG reissue has cleaned up some of the slight muddiness and low-end organ distortion of the original disc, is all the more reason to buy this fantastic album. With that being said, I'm still holding on to my original CD for those five bonus cuts. Hopefully they will be reissued with improved sound at a later date.

Legendary
This is one of my favourites Blue note sessions. On the sermon, well, every solo is perfect, although Tina Brook's solo is just one of the best I've ever heard, he could play the blues no dubt about that. And Lee Morgan on Flamingo, well, lets just say for me, this is the definitive version. On JOS, a fast paced number, you can really hear the magic of these sessions: Jimmy Smiths instructs with his organ that is time for a player to stop his solo, but Lee Morgan just ignores him and keeps going! A memorable moment from a great session. I agree: all tracks from this session should have been packed and sold as "The Sermon", but with the great remaster, you kind of forget about it. Now, go get 'House Party' with the rest of the tracks from this session, another excellent purchase.

Worth it
Believe the hype. As advertised, Jimmy Smith and company funk out the joint on the Smith originals, "The Sermon" and "J.O.S." But, for me, the cover of the haunting "Flamingo" really anchors the album. Lee Morgan's trumpet in the opening bars is as sweet as it gets (this is some of his earliest recorded work.)

Throughout, Smith seems inspired by the new musicians added to his regular crew. Kenny Burrell especially seems to work well with Smith, and Tina Brooks adds a great solo in the title track.

The Hammond might be an unconventional instrument on which to build a jazz combo, but the results here are fantastic.