Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? - Jimmy Smith

 

Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

Jimmy Smith

Arranged by Oliver Nelson and Claus Ogerman

Produced by Creed Taylor

Cover Photograph by Ray De Caracas

Designed by Acy Lehman

Director Of Engineering: Val Valentin

Recorded in New York on Jan. 20, 21 & 27, 1964

Verve V-8583

From the inside cover: I recall my introduction to Jimmy Smith when Babe Gonzales phoned me from New York and blurted: "Hey, Brother 'B', are you hip to this organ playin' cat from Philly, named Jimmy Smith"? He's a boss cat on the Hammond Organ," I would have merely listened politely, but when Babs Gonzales invested his hard-earned cash to call from New York, then I knew it was important. I immediately went over to the swingingest record shop in Chicago, the Met, and ear-checked some Jimmy Smith L.P.'s.

Jimmy had only two releases at that time, but I heard enough to become a great fan. However, I did not have the pleasure of meeting him until a year or two later, in Chicago, when Jimmy and his bride where honeymooning. His wife proved to be charming, devoted, and a real asset to Jimmy's sky-rocketing career. Mrs. Smith, a former school teacher, and I discussed the possibility of booking Jimmy for an appearance in Chicago. The rest is history.

Jimmy Smith now stands alone; a very masterful organist. He is so far in front of his competition on this particular instrument that he is lonesome.

As an artist, he approaches his craft with deep conviction. This instrument has given him the freedom to express himself in a manner that was not possible with the piano.

At your earliest opportunity, observe Jimmy Smith with his second love – the organ. At times he is caressingly gentle, and then he attacks his instrument with a fierceness that leaves him limp. He wrings his fingers with an expression of discontent because he finds it impossible to release the 10 million different combinations of sound that are embraced in this fantastic Hammond Organ.

Jazzistically speaking, the finest thing to happen for jazz in recent years has been the merger of Jimmy Smith and Oliver Nelson.

Oliver is a musician par excellence... a prolific arranger... a creative composer who has a fierce pride in his work. Although I was first introduced to Nelson's music in 1961, with his "Afro-American Sketches" LP. (which still moves me emotionally), it wasn't until January of 1964 that I met him personally. My introduction was initiated with a scheduled 15 minute interview on my radio program. This interview extended itself into 2 1/2 hours of stimulating conversation. Nelson was frankly truthful and outspoken.

This is a very ambitious LP. You just didn't find jazzmen rolling around with classics such as Slaughter On Tenth Avenue until now.

But the masterpiece, as far as I am concerned, is Jimmy Smith's skillful interpretation of Nelson's arrangement of the music score written by Don Kirkpatrick and Kevin Knox, based on New York's great hit, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? Part I has all the necessary ingredients to capture the imagination of the typical jazz buff. It has fire and endless excitement... Part II is a tribute to Nelson's ability to completely release Smith on a solo showcase of Jimmy at his finest... here Smith's talent is completely uninhibited and soars in complete abandon. – Daddio Daylie

Note: Holme (Daddio) Daylie is regraded as one of the nation's leading authorities on jazz. Daddio is currently heard four hours daily on WAAF, and Saturday night over WMAQ, an NBC owned and operated station. Daddio has never wavered from his format of broadcasting jazz exclusively during the 15 years he has been broadcasting. Daddio is equally famed as jazz impresario in Chicago, by presenting America's leading jazz artists in concert in the Windy City's beautiful Air Crown Theatre, with overflow crowds of 5000 delighted fans.

From Billboard - April 18, 1964: Jimmy Smith is trying some different things here. Along with a heavy dose of the blues, soul feel, he's demonstrating unique pop concepts. One is the "Slaughter On 10th Avenue" sound. There's some hard-bitten sound for the literati in "Virginia Woolf" tracks too. Best Track: "Women Of The World".

Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

Whos' Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? - Part 1

Who's Afraid Of Virginaia Woolf - Part 2

John Brown's Body

Wive And Lovers

Women Of The World

Bluesette