Slaughter On Tenth Avenue/Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf Part 1/Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf Part 2/John Brown’s Body/Wives & Lovers/Women Of The World/Bluesette
Jazz electric organist Jimmy Smith achieved his fourth US album success with Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. It was considered rather too experimental for some reviewers. (US:16)
"The music tends to be corny and overly dramatic, based in soul-jazz and boogaloo. it's dated even for this time period and a bit bland. Disparate elements clash rather than meld, the title track and Slaughter On Tenth Avenue being perfect examples. If you can get beyond the hokey 007 theatrics, patriotic splashes, and sleigh bells, you do hear Smith jamming."
"A curiosity in his discography, for some an 'experiment' that never worked, and for others an interesting aside, one wonders what Smith really thought of this project after the fact, considering his far greater works."
"The arrangements for most tunes start with a smooth orchestral opening and Smith playing melody. The orchestra crescendos and departs to make room for Jimmy Smith's incredible improvisations. This is best illustrated on Slaughter and the first version of the title cut."
"This is one of Jimmy's best. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue builds to a mighty crescendo that just leaves you exhausted, exhilarated and smiling. It is so incredible and then the second track, Virginia Woolf takes off and you're away on another incredible adventure in Jimmy's undeniable perfection of the Hammond B-3."
"Good mix of styles of music. Best jazz organist of all time. I have listened to this album for 40 years and am taken to near Nirvana each time. If you consider yourself a true Jimmy fan, and have not heard this 1964 recording of Slaughter On Tenth Avenue, find it. It is his absolute masterpiece."
"A really cool classic album from the master of cool jazz. For me the two outstanding tracks have to be Slaughter On Tenth Avenue and Bluesette. A must album for any Jimmy Smith fan."
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