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Jimmy Smith Tribute - From UK's Legend
Rev Cleatus's organ afficianado -Greg Boraman- recently received this from Britains very own Hammond Hero - Mr Auger. It's a great tribute to the man that first tore up the B3 and Leslie combo and paved the way for so many great artists and records ever since...
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The passing away of the great Jimmy Smith means the passing away of the
greatest inspirational player of the Hammond B3 in Jazz History. I have
always said that Jimmy was the "Daddy" of all us Modern Organ Players
and his passing has given me time to reflect upon just how vast his
influence was on the instrument. It has taken me years to develop my own
sound and to step away from the burgeoning school of Hammond players who
all sound like Jimmy, as I did when I first began to play the B3,
because Jimmy had developed such an exciting, seductive and hip sound on
the instrument. When somebody first mentioned Jazz and Organ to me, they
seemed to have nothing in common. This was because the only organ sounds
that I was familiar with, when growing up, were the church pipe organ
and the great Wurlitzer Theatre Organ that would appear at the local
cinema during the interval, and would invariably start with The
Dambusters March!
When passing my local record store in Shepherds Bush Market I heard
this amazing sound emanating from their outside speakers. I rushed in
because I didn't recognise this sound and demanded to know whose record
was playing. They showed me the cover to Back at the Chicken Shack,
which I promptly purchased, and which proceeded to change my life
radically. Were it not for that album I would not have purchased my
first Hammond which has est me up with a world - wide career spanning
forty years. When I first met Jimmy I thanked him for his inspirational
playing and explained that if it were not for him I probably would not
have come to the USA and had the great times I have enjoyed. His wife,
Lola, a beautiful and elegant lady, honoured me on that occasion by by
saying that she thought that many people had 'taken' from Jimmy, but she
thought that I had been influenced but I had really gone my own way. At
the time I had won the Keyboard Magazine Jazz organ Poll two years in a
row, and I thought how gracious it was of her to say that.
Last year jimmy played at the Catalina Bar & Grill here in Los in Los
Angeles, I decided to take my son Karma . We were knocked out with
Jimmy's performance. On entering the bandroom I introduced Karma, who
greeted Jimmy saying "It's an honour to meet you Jimmy, and now I know
who my Dad gets it all from!" Jimmy told me that he couldn't believe how
old he was getting. I told him that it hadn't slowed him up any. He
seemed in very good spirits and he really turned it on in the second
set. I am saddened by his passing ,but he has left us such a rich
catalogue of fantastic music. Yes, The King is Dead ,but he will live
forever.
Brian Auger L.A. Feb 11 2005.
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The passing away of the great Jimmy Smith means the passing away of the
greatest inspirational player of the Hammond B3 in Jazz History. I have
always said that Jimmy was the "Daddy" of all us Modern Organ Players
and his passing has given me time to reflect upon just how vast his
influence was on the instrument. It has taken me years to develop my own
sound and to step away from the burgeoning school of Hammond players who
all sound like Jimmy, as I did when I first began to play the B3,
because Jimmy had developed such an exciting, seductive and hip sound on
the instrument. When somebody first mentioned Jazz and Organ to me, they
seemed to have nothing in common. This was because the only organ sounds
that I was familiar with, when growing up, were the church pipe organ
and the great Wurlitzer Theatre Organ that would appear at the local
cinema during the interval, and would invariably start with The
Dambusters March!
When passing my local record store in Shepherds Bush Market I heard
this amazing sound emanating from their outside speakers. I rushed in
because I didn't recognise this sound and demanded to know whose record
was playing. They showed me the cover to Back at the Chicken Shack,
which I promptly purchased, and which proceeded to change my life
radically. Were it not for that album I would not have purchased my
first Hammond which has est me up with a world - wide career spanning
forty years. When I first met Jimmy I thanked him for his inspirational
playing and explained that if it were not for him I probably would not
have come to the USA and had the great times I have enjoyed. His wife,
Lola, a beautiful and elegant lady, honoured me on that occasion by by
saying that she thought that many people had 'taken' from Jimmy, but she
thought that I had been influenced but I had really gone my own way. At
the time I had won the Keyboard Magazine Jazz organ Poll two years in a
row, and I thought how gracious it was of her to say that.
Last year jimmy played at the Catalina Bar & Grill here in Los in Los
Angeles, I decided to take my son Karma . We were knocked out with
Jimmy's performance. On entering the bandroom I introduced Karma, who
greeted Jimmy saying "It's an honour to meet you Jimmy, and now I know
who my Dad gets it all from!" Jimmy told me that he couldn't believe how
old he was getting. I told him that it hadn't slowed him up any. He
seemed in very good spirits and he really turned it on in the second
set. I am saddened by his passing ,but he has left us such a rich
catalogue of fantastic music. Yes, The King is Dead ,but he will live
forever.
Brian Auger L.A. Feb 11 2005.
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ermm.???
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