Song of the Day: Jimmy Smith “Judo Mambo”

One of the undisputed masters of the Hammond B3 (if not the master), Jimmy Smith did more to invent modern organ jazz and to drag the organ into the bebop and hard bop era, than any other musician. “Judo Mambo” is the lead off track from Smith‘s seminal At The Organ Vol. 3 LP and instantly catches fire. Smith starts proceedings with the propulsive drum work of Donald Bailey and some palm-muted guitar chords from Thornel Schwartz before launching firing away with his own B3. Smith not only ably holds down the bass line with his feet on the organ’s pedals (indeed, Jimmy Smith started his music career as a stand-up bass player) but plays the complex melody with his right hand while simultaneously comping with his left. This builds the foundation through which Schwartz and Smith can solo relentlessly, trading 4s and 8s with each other and eventually Bailey. Smith employs all of his tricks of the trade here, producing a funky masterclass of the organ while still staying lyrical and maintaining the song’s Latin vibe.

Jimmy Smith was born in 1925 in Norristown, PA. He came from a musical family and by the age of 6 had joined his father as a song and dance performer in clubs. He began teaching himself the bass and the piano and worked for a while as a bassist and boogie-woogie pianist. He did a stint in the navy and following that, opted to further his education, both studying at the Royal Hamilton College of Music and the Leo Omstein School of Music (both in Philadelphia). Eventually he began to explore the unique sounds and textures that the organ could afford him and fell in love with the instrument.

Smith began playing the instrument in Philadelphia jazz clubs where he was heard by Alfred Lion who promptly signed him to legendary jazz label, Blue Note Records. He recorded some 40 albums for Blue Note over 8 years (including many classics including The Sermon and The Incredible Jimmy Smith series) beginning in 1956 before defecting to Verve in the mid-60s. Jimmy Smith continued to play, record and tour right up until his death in 2005. I was fortunate to see him live in 2003 and it remains one of the highlights of my concert going life. The man was a genius!