Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith (b. 1928) is a jazz musician, specifically an organistist. He has a jazz style known in the sixties and seventies as 'funk'. Smith, whose preferred instrument is the Hammond B-3 electric organ, was influenced by both gospel and blues. His music is characterised by percussive left hand work, and very fast melodic improvisation with the right hand. Smith first recorded with the Blue Note label in 1956, switched to Verve in 1963, and has been a prolific recording artist. With an orchestra, he has recorded with arrangers and conductors such as Lalo Schifrin and Oliver Nelson; in small groups he has worked with many of the best jazz musicians around, like Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery, and Grady Tate.