Hi, Jimmy Smith, One of the great Jazz innovators has past away on Tuesday 8th Feb from natural causes. He was one of big hitter on the Hammond B3 organ. His virtuosity over the instrument combined with his brilliant infusion of gospel, blues and R&B riffs and melodies into bebop-inspired improvisations place him alongside other jazz pioneers, such as Charlie Parker, Art Tatum and John Coltrane – artists who revolutionized the way their respective instruments were played and who are continuing to have a profound influence of other instrumentalists. He started off on the panio but in 1951, he switched over to the Hammond organ. He hit the road running with his debut for Blue Note with " A New Sound, A New Star: Jimmy Smith at the Organ, vol. 1." His style of Jazz developed into a fat funky sound from his Hammond organ. A big run of albums on Blue note such as The Sermon, Back at the Chicken shack, Midnight Special and Prayer meeting. Later He moved to Verve records and produced even more albums. Lps like Organ Grinders swing, Jimmy & Wes - Dynamic Duo and Root down. Thought this time he toured all around the world showing every one that he was the true master of his craft. Jazz fell into hard times in the 70s with Jimmy leaving Verve. He recorded for a number of labels in the 70s & 80s but was still touring very heavily. He opened a Jazz club in the 70s to help keep his art alive. The rise of the acid jazz scene in the late 80s and the rise of hip hop saw a big demand for the Hammond organ and the sounds of Jimmy Smith. The Verve label was revived and Jimmy was back with them. Earlier this year in the US, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Smith with the prestigious Jazz Masters Fellowship. He has an new album due out very soon. He was a very popular draw on the music scene right up to the end. He was another artist I didn't get to see live, much to my regret. I have enjoyed much of his music. One of his cds made the rounds with me at a number of hifi show visits and bake offs. This was meet with much enjoyment by others. Jimmy Smith, my favourite Hammond organ player, RIP. SCIDB