Jimmy Smith – Bashin’: The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (Acoustic Sounds Series) (Quick Ship)

“Bashin’: The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith” catches Jimmy Smith at the moment he stepped out of the smoky organ trio world and into full big‑band Technicolor. Backed by Oliver Nelson’s sharp, cinematic arrangements and a powerhouse ensemble, Smith’s Hammond B‑3 doesn’t just solo—it commands the room. The famous take on “Walk on the Wild Side” turns a film theme into a swaggering street parade, while the slower tunes reveal how much nuance and blues feeling he can wring from a single sustained chord.

This Acoustic Sounds Series edition gives the record the kind of treatment it has always deserved: all‑analog mastering, quiet vinyl, and a wide, open soundstage where you can actually feel the air around the brass and the whirr of the Leslie cabinet. It’s a perfect entry point if you’re just discovering Jimmy Smith, and an essential upgrade if you already know the album from digital or worn‑out pressings.

For a jazz collection, “Bashin’” fills a specific, delicious space: sophisticated but unpretentious, bold yet inviting. Put it on when you want the room to feel like a mid‑’60s club—lights low, band locked in, and the organist absolutely in charge.