Ok so one of my favorite jazz artists is the incredible organist Jimmy Smith and another is guitarist Kenny Burrell. Sit;’s no wonder that the album Fourmost is a favorite! Fourmost joins Jimmy Smith on organ and Kenny Burrell on guitar with other jazz greats Stanley Turentine on sax and Grady Tate on drums. The set was recorded live in 1990 at Fat Tuesday’s in New York City
One of my favorite tracks on the album is one of the two Ellington songs covered on the album “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be”. The other Ellington cover is “Main Stem” .Kenny Burrel’s guitar is as always great especially on his composition “Soulful Brother.” From most reviews I read of the album the closing track “Quiet Night of Quiet Stars,” may be record’s highlight. It’s a textured bossa nova jam that has Smith shouting “Oh, my God!” by the end of the track!
Next, I listened to Fourmost Returns. This album includes numbers recorded at the same show. Again the music is great. One of my favorite tracks on this album is “Back at the Chicken Shack”, which opens with a Kenny Burrell solo, followed by a Stanley Turentine solo and Smith closes out the track. Looking up some Smith info on Wikipedia I see that Back at the Chicken Shack the album was released in 1960 and it was cited in the book 1001 Albums you Must Hear Before You Die. As with the first album this is just a good album to put on sit back and relax. I enjoyed the great guitar, sax and especially Jimmy Smith’s organ!
So to end the day’s jazz listening I listened to the aforementioned Back at the Chicken Shack. The album features Kenny Burrell on guitar, Stanley Turentine on sax and Donald Bailey on drums. From the AllMusic Guide
Back at the Chicken Shack is one of organist Jimmy Smith’s classic Blue Note sessions, and the first to draw attention to tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Recorded in 1960 with Kenny Burrell on guitar, Donald Bailey on drums, and Turrentine, the group reaches the peak of funky soul-jazz that all other challengers of the genre would have to live up to. Included on this uptempo session is a reworking of “When I Grow Too Old to Dream” (a feature for Turrentine), Turrentine’s “Minor Chant,” two Smith compositions, “Messy Bessie” as well as the set’s notable title cut, and the CD-only bonus track, “On the Sunny Side of the Street.” Smith’s Midnight Special album was recorded at these same sessions, and is also exceptional. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
Here;s “Organ Grinder’s Swing” which appears on the Fourmost </strong with Herman Riley ably filling in for Stanley Turnetine on sax! Otherwise the players are the same!
