I saw Jimmy Smith in 1995 at the San Francisco Jazz festival. I was on the Left Coast for vacation when I saw the festival, coincidentally right around the time I started to buy Jazz records heavy. I had to go see him, as a few years earlier an industry BBQ had me come home full off of some ribs on the grill, but also a copy of Jimmy Smith’s latestDamn!, where he covered tunes from James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Timmons, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Curtis Fuller, and more. Situated near the Twenty Tank Brewery, Jimmy Smith took the stage with a pink blazer, proudly declaring: “I’m Jimmy Smith, and this is music for Black folk”. I immediately fell in love with this Hammond organ virtuoso. He proceeded to tear the roof off the festival (if there was a roof covering the outdoors). I was hooked on Smith, the Hammond B-3, and my music taste had changed even more. Jimmy Smith eventually lead me to Groove Holmes, which led me to Bother Jack McDuff, which lead me to Shirley Scott, which lead me to Jimmy McGriff and whoever else I could get my hands on that sat behind a massive organ with a rotating speaker.
“Root Down”, first sampled by the Beastie Boys, as an homage to Smith borrows HEAVY from the original, and after listening to the original, you can clearly see why they would use this sample. Recorded Live in 1972 in Los Angeles, the bass of Wilton Fender kicks it off, and then the drums move in. Paul Humphrey has played on drums from Smith to Steely Dan and every other Jazz, Funk, and Soul record you have heard (seriously). The man is a monster, and these drums form the backbone of the tune while Smith’s organ smokes and Arthur Adams guitar keeps it moving and grooving. I dare you to NOT bob your head to this tune. Clocking in over the 12 minute mark, this is some jam kids, and if you don’t know, now you know.
This record is one of those tunes you can not forget, and when I play it, people go nuts. So in turn, I am excited, playing Jazz from 38 years ago and still getting the same reaction the people who were watching Jimmy Smith and Paul Humphrey make music history did. It’s a great example of Jazz Funk that was relevant then, and is still relevant now.