Jimmy Smith Softly As A Summer Breeze CD

Personnel: Jimmy Smith (organ); Bill Henderson (vocals); Kenny Burrell, Eddie McFadden (guitar); Philly Joe Jones, Donald Bailey (drums).
Producer: Alfred Lion.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded at Manhattan Towers, New York, New York on February 26, 1958 and the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on October 14, 1958. Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather.
Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Ron McMaster.
This is part of Blue Note's Limited Edition Connoisseur series.
Personnel: Jimmy Smith (organ); Bill Henderson (vocals); Eddie McFadden, Kenny Burrell, Ray Crawford (guitar); Donald Bailey , Philly Joe Jones (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Rudy Van Gelder.
Liner Note Author: Bob Blumenthal.
Recording information: Manhattan Towers, New York, NY (02/26/1958-10/14/1958); Van Gelder Studios, Hackensack, NJ (02/26/1958-10/14/1958).
Photographer: Francis Wolff.
Softly As a Summer Breeze is one of Jimmy Smith's more obscure Blue Notes. The six-song trio program finds the organist joined by either guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Philly Joe Jones or guitarist Eddie McFadden and drummer Donald Bailey. In the original liner notes, Leonard Feather makes it seem like a ballad-oriented set, but "Hackensack" really cooks, "Sometimes I'm Happy" struts, and "One For Philly Joe" (a familiar but unplaceable melody used for a later pop tune) has its exciting moments. What is unusual about the set is the absence of any blues. The CD is augmented by four other selections that were originally released as 45s and are features for Bill Henderson's vocals; the singer is joined by Smith, guitarist Ray Crawford and drummer Bailey. Henderson's debut, a version of "Senor Blues" with Horace Silver, had been a hit, but lightning would not strike twice, although the he would have a productive career during the next four decades. Overall, this CD is not too essential, but it does fill in a few gaps. ~ Scott Yanow
Though virtuoso organist Smith is known primarily as a practitioner of bluesy, groove-oriented tunes, this 1958 date remains true to its title, exploring a more relaxed ballad feel on standards like "These Foolish Things," "It Could Happen To You" and "Someone To Watch Over Me." Smith's airy chordal work and breezy solos mesh perfectly with guitarist Kenny Burrell's elegant melodic trills. Philly Joe Jones' subtle, tasty brush work provides the necessary motion, and when things rev up, as on the Monk composition "Hackensack," Jones is the driving force behind Smith's explorations. Four tunes featuring singer Bill Henderson are added to this reissue, sweetening the pot for Smith fans.
Softly as a Summer Breeze, released in 1965, is one of Jimmy Smith's more obscure Blue Note recordings. The six-song trio program finds the organist joined by either guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Philly Joe Jones, or guitarist Eddie McFadden and drummer Donald Bailey. In other words, Smith recorded with two different rhythm sections in the same day. In the original liner notes, Leonard Feather makes it seem like a ballad-oriented set, but "Hackensack" really cooks, "Sometimes I'm Happy" struts, and "Home Cookin' (aka One for Philly Joe" (a familiar but unplaceable melody used for a later pop tune) has its exciting moments. What is unusual about the set is the absence of any blues. The strangest thing about this recording, done on February 26, 1965, is that only a day earlier, Smith led two burning sessions that vaulted material for his classic albums, The Sermon and House Party.
The CD version of Softly as a Summer Breeze is augmented by four other selections, two of which were originally released as 45s and are showcases for Bill Henderson's vocals. The singer is joined by Smith, guitarist Ray Crawford, and drummer Bailey. Henderson's debut, a version of "Senor Blues" with Horace Silver, had been a hit, but lightning did not strike twice, although the he would have a productive career during t