Bashin’ - JIMMY SMITH****

Walk On The Wild Side/Ol’ Man River/In A Mellotone/Step Right Up/Beggar For The Blues/Bashin’/I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

Bashin’ was the first album release from jazz Hammond organist Jimmy Smith after moving from Blue Note to the Verve label and featured arrangements by Oliver Nelson. (US:10) “First side with a big band with arrangements by Oliver Nelson, second side is with the trio Smith-Warren-Bailey. Highlights are a nice version of the classic Walk On The Wild Side, the self-penned Bashin' and the grooving I'm An Old Cowhand.”

“A popular jazz album in 1962 was this session featuring Jimmy Smith, with Walk On The Wild Side being a great favourite with jazz aficionados and pop fans alike. The song peaked at No. 21, no small achievement for a jazz musician at that time. Smith's music for the movie is probably better remembered than the film itself, although the entire set is a real jam session. Ol' Man River and the title tune Bashin' are also excellent numbers. This jazz LP is a nice trip down the music memory lane.”

“This LP has some really smokin' playing by Jimmy. It's highly recommended. The big band backup of Oliver Nelson, with whom Jimmy collaborated for a good number of recordings really adds to Bashin’. It's real powerful stuff all the way through."

“The arrangements by Oliver Nelson are splendid. Numbers like Step Right Up and Walk On The Wild Side are worth five stars.”

“This disc, released in 1962, captures the artist at a transition period, and proves that no matter the band, year or label, Smith was a consistently compelling artist.”

“While fans of Smith's lower-key trio work for Blue Note may cringe at the blare of horns and the grandiose dynamic shifts, Smith is still in uber-cool form, and his Hammond plays the groovy foil to Nelson's occasionally square arrangements.”

“On the first half Smith was for the first time joined by a big band. Oliver Nelson provided the arrangements, trumpeter Joe Newman and altoist Phil Woods have a solo apiece, and Walk On The Wild Side became Smith's biggest hit up to that point.”