Requisites
Crazy! Baby ~ Jimmy Smith | By Eddie Carter
The Incredible Jimmy Smith steps into the spotlight for this morning’s discussion with his first release of the sixties and fifteenth of his career. Crazy! Baby (Blue Note BLP 4030) is a 1960 trio album featuring the organist’s bandmates, Quentin Warren on guitar, and Donald Bailey on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1966 Liberty Records Stereo reissue (BST 84030).
When Johnny Comes Marching Home, the album opener has been around since 1863 and the Civil War. I first heard the 45-rpm single of this song in 1962 and was blown away by the group’s musicianship. Quentin is up first after the ensemble’s introduction and marching theme for an opening statement that goes down smoothly and easily like chilled Chardonnay. Jimmy follows with one of his meatiest solos, nearly five-minutes of electrifying jazz preceding the out-chorus march and trio vanishing. Makin’ Whoopee by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson premiered in the 1928 Broadway musical, Whoopee! The trio eases into the wonderfully nostalgic theme and Smith executes a marvelous mellow interpretation with a stunning bass line using his left foot.
A Night In Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli was first sung as a vocal by Sarah Vaughan under the title Interlude on the 1950 album, Hot Jazz. This 1942 Bebop classic is one of Gillespie’s most recorded tunes and the trio establishes the opening chorus made famous by Dizzy. Jimmy kicks off the lead solo with a riveting performance. Quentin closes with a funky statement matched by Donald’s rocking timekeeping propelling the trio into a thrilling coda.
Sonnymoon For Two is by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins and the composer introduced it on the 1957 album, A Night at The Village Vanguard. The group opens with a bluesy melody, then Warren dances and grooves on two short, but strong verses. Jimmy comes in next for some extensive wailing on the finale before the reprise and fadeout. Mack The Knife by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht made its debut in the 1928 German play, The Threepenny Opera. This jazz and pop evergreen is a showcase for Smith who does a superlative job illustrating the title character in a thoroughly satisfying performance.
Up next is the thoughtfully pensive ballad by Bob Haggart and Johnny Burke, What’s New? Smith starts with a delicately wistful melody, segueing into a melancholic one-sided interpretation reflecting on the love that’s now just a memory before ending his conversation in grand fashion. The album closes with Smith’s dedication to Blue Note co-founder Alfred Lion, Alfredo. The trio flows vibrantly on the melody into Quentin soloing first with a leisurely, carefree swing that’ll get fingers snapping and toes tapping. Jimmy raises the temperature on a vivaciously brisk closing presentation taking no prisoners into the ending.
Rudy Van Gelder’s recording has a pleasant soundstage across the treble, midrange and bass spectrum resulting in sweet sounds emerging from your speakers that make this LP an easy choice to recommend for your library. If you’re a fan of jazz organ or are just discovering the music of Jimmy Smith, I submit for your consideration, Crazy! Baby. It’s a tasty combination of Hard-Bop and Soul-Jazz that once heard, you’ll want to replay repeatedly!
~ A Night at The Village Vanguard (Blue Note BLP 1581/BST 81581); Hot Jazz (Remington RLP-1024) – Source: Discogs.com ~ A Night In Tunisia, Mack The Knife, Makin’ Whoopee, What’s New? – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ When Johnny Comes Marching Home – Source: Wikipedia.org ~ When Johnny Comes Marching Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YpKGKF7_XY ~ A Night In Tunisia – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3c-564EE0o © 2020 by Edward Thomas Carter Synopsis
Crazy! Baby is an album by jazz organist Jimmy Smith with performances that were recorded on January 4, 1960 and released by Blue Note. This was the first album Smith recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Tracks | 37:08
- When Johnny Comes Marching Home (Traditional) – 7:58
- Makin’ Whoopee (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 4:57
- A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie) – 5:40
- Sonnymoon for Two (Sonny Rollins) – 7:15
- Mack the Knife (Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) – 4:58
- What’s New? (Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke) – 3:50
- Alfredo (Jimmy Smith) – 4:30
- Jimmy Smith – organ
- Quentin Warren – guitar
- Donald Bailey – drums
- Alfred Lion – producer
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
- Reid Miles – design
- Bob Ganley – photography
- Leonard Feather – liner notes
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