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Last Call Review: Dr. Lonnie Smith / In The Beginning Volumes 1 & 2 / Pilgrimage

Dr. Lonnie Smith's Hammond B-3 wizardry has dazzled this listener for years. Smith's first live recording on his own Pilgrimage imprint, The Healer, was a deeply powerful organ trio experience. On the new release,  In The Beginning Volumes 1 & 2,  the liner notes declare that "Dr. Lonnie Smith revisits, recontextualizes and reimagines a dozen songs from his first decade as a recording artist."

Smith's recording career began in the 1960s, when he was the organist for George Benson's quartet on several albums. Smith's first recording as a leader, Finger Lickin' Good, was made in 1966. Recording dates followed with saxophonist Lou Donaldson on several history making Blue Note recordings, including Alligator Boogaloo.  This led to the organist receiving his own recording contract with Blue Note,  which led to the soul jazz classics Think!, Turning Point, Move Your Hand, and Live at Club Mozambique.

For In The Beginning Volumes 1 & 2, Dr. Lonnie Smith returns with an Octet of top-flight jazz musicians: Dr. Lonnie Smith on Hammond B3 organ and vocals is joined by Ed Cherry, guitar; Jonathan Blake, drums; Little Johnny Rivero, congas; Andy Gravish, trumpet;  Ian Hendrickson-Smith,  alto sax and flute; John Ellis, tenor sax, bass clarinet and Jason Marshall, baritone sax.

The artistry throughout is sublime. The octet is taken to full throttle on "Turning Point", encouraged by Smith's relentless organ.  "In The Beginning" starts with a cosmic crescendo from Smith before becoming a mellow ballad. The Hammond B-3 master provides vocalizations and organ fireworks that are accompanied by the horns in a very tight groove on "Move Your Hand".  On the hard swinging number "Call of the Wild" featured players include Gravish making a strong statement along with Rivero's congas with Smith at the middle of a swirl of enchanting sound.

This is an excellent live date, including two discs of music recorded last year in New York. It is indeed the next best thing to being there.  I witnessed with Dr. Lonnie Smith at the Iowa City Jazz Festival in July, 2013. Leading a trio for the engagement, Smith at times created crescendos of emotion through intensely funky and at times stellar musical statements.  His seemingly limitless technique and dynamic trio entertained a appreciative audience of all ages for several hours.

The good doctor of all things Hammond B-3 is scheduled to perform at several stops in the midwest during the next year, performing in Omaha at the 1200 Club at the Holland in 2014. 

For more information you may visit http://drlonniesmith.com/

You may also visit http://www.omahaperformingarts.org/

(Photo credit:Chris Cooke)

Chris Cooke has been a voice on public radio in Omaha since 1989. Working at KVNO-FM during college, Cooke hosted a weekend progressive jazz show on the station in addition to working as an on-air announcer. In November 1992, Cooke signed on at KIOS-FM and has been there ever since. He has hosted the Tuesday and Thursday editions of Jazz in the Afternoon since 1996 and has hosted Last Call since that year. A long time fan of jazz music, Cooke enjoys talking with the musicians who make jazz music and presenting those conversations with listeners. When not hosting or listening to jazz, on record or in person, Cooke maintains a busy schedule as a self-employed web design consultant.
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