Jimmy Smith

Home Cookin' is one of the most soulful records Jimmy Smith made in his first Blue Note period. It collects blues, gospel-tinged tunes and R&B covers, played by a small group around his Hammond B3. Smith had swapped the piano for the organ in 1954 and soon developed the approach that laid the ground for soul jazz. This set shows that style at its most down to earth.

The album was assembled from three sessions at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey: July 15, 1958, and May 24 and June 16, 1959. Kenny Burrell on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums play on every track. Tenor saxophonist Percy France joins on four of the June 1959 pieces. Alfred Lion produced, and Rudy Van Gelder recorded. Blue Note released the album in 1961, with liner notes by Ira Gitler.

The repertoire starts with Ma Rainey's See See Rider, a slow, low-key blues with close interplay between organ and guitar. Ray Charles' I Got a Woman is the only track from the May 1959 date, played by the trio alone. Burrell contributes Sugar Hill and Come On Baby, and Smith wrote Messin' Around and Gracie. The album closes with Motorin' Along by fellow organist Jimmy McGriff, the one piece from the 1958 session.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (2008) singles out Burrell's presence and calls the album "A solid one". AllMusic recommends it as a starting place for listeners new to Smith's organ playing. A 2004 CD edition in the RVG series added five bonus tracks from the same sessions, among them Since I Fell for You and Jack McDuff's Groanin'.

This is the Japanese Ultimate High Quality CD from Universal Music Japan (UCCQ-9637, 2024), remastered by Kevin Gray. It comes in a jewel case with obi strip and the original sleeve notes reproduced on the back inlay.