Released in 1982, 'Off The Top' captures Jimmy Smith at the helm of the Hammond B3, firing on all cylinders with a band of jazz luminaries including George Benson, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Stanley Turrentine. The album finds Smith in a late-career resurgence, blending his signature bluesy phrasing with modern jazz sensibilities. Each track is a conversation—Smith’s organ lines riff and tumble, spurring inventive solos from his collaborators. The interplay is electric, especially on the album’s uptempo numbers, but there’s warmth and fluidity even in its quieter moments. For listeners, this is more than a showcase of technical prowess; it’s an invitation into a session where legends push, challenge, and uplift one another. 'Off The Top' stands as a testament to Smith’s enduring influence on jazz and the soul-jazz tradition—raw, spontaneous, and deeply grooving. It’s a must for collectors seeking an album that bridges classic and contemporary jazz, and for anyone hungry for the infectious energy that only true masters can conjure together in a room.
Track List:
A1 - Off The Top -
A2 - Endless Love -
A3 - Mimosa -
B1 - I´ll Drink To That -
B2 - Theme From MASH -
B3 - Ain´t Missbehavin´ -
B4 - Jimmy Smith Rap -