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Classic Album Review: Jimmy Smith | Dot Com Blues

The jazz-organ titan slices the grooves thick as fatback on this cool comeback set.

This album came out back in 2001. Here’s what I said about it then (with some minor editing):

 


“I’ve never heard Jimmy Smith,” my friend said when i handed him the jazz-organ legend’s latest CD. “Have you ever heard Medeski, Martin and Wood?” I asked. “Yeah,” he said. “Have you ever heard The Beastie BoysPaul’s Boutique,” we asked. “Sure,” he said. “Then you’ve heard Jimmy Smith,” I replied. He said, “Cool.”

Cool, indeed. That’s the right word for Dot Com Blues, which is, by my rough count, Smith’s 100th album or so. Although he’s in his mid-70s and hasn’t recorded in five years, Smitty is still on top of his game — ready, willing and able to slice the grooves thick as fatback and tease percolating solos from his keys like he was caressing his sweetheart. Which, come to think of it, he probably is. A VIP guest list including Dr. John, Etta James, B.B. King, Taj Mahal and Keb Mo’ drop by to pay respects, but the show belongs to Jimmy, who shows why everyone from Money Mark to Gregg Allman has taken a big bite outta his percolatin’, combusticatin’ style. Pick up Dot Com Blues and hear Smith again for the first time.

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