Jimmy Smith

This review is presented in its original form as a letter to Mr. Sal Azzarelli of the USA.

I received a phone call the night before the Jimmy Smith rental to ask if I could be there at 12.30pm, instead of 2.00pm as first requested. Jimmy wanted to try the organ before the sound check. So I arrived at the venue and set up the B3.

The B3 looked awesome on the centre of the stage, and everyone was up having a look, as per usual. The production manager came across and said. " Well Jimmy should will be impressed". I said "Yeah, but he will have to find something wrong with it." I had been told of guys having to adjust pedals that were set up perfectly, and all sorts of complaints that had to be rectified before he would play the organ. I was then told that British Airways had managed to lose Jimmy's entire luggage, and that he was going to be late, as he was getting a suit tailored. He eventually arrived at 3.00pm and looked weak and tired and nearly tripped climbing up the stairs on to the stage.

I was introduced to him, and said to him "It was nice to see him again, I'm your man for the day...if there is anything you need". He simply replied "O.K. But have you got an organ for me boy?" He took my hand to shake it, and wouldn't let go.......this was when I realised that he was actually very weak and tired and was using me to aid himself in the direction of the B3. I told him as he was sitting down that I had set up the drawbars for him.

This was dead kewl. THANKS SAL!!!!!! He lent over to set up the drawbars.....and they were already set up!! He just kinda looked at me......... He sat on the bench....and looked exhausted and sat there taking long deep breaths, and saying " Oh Boy" I asked him if he was tired...and he nodded. After a while he started playing.

Boy!! The old guy disappeared and there was this flash of lighting was emanating from the keys!! He played for a short while....then played two full chords with both hands, and a bass pedal, and full volume.

He then turned and looked at the Leslies. At this point in time no stage monitors were set up. He kept on playing the chords, and pedal and told me there was a problem with the Leslies. He asked for them to be turned down to lose the overdrive, and this was done. He then said "No bass". "Oh! We got a problem here!" He asked who the engineer was. I told him I was. He said that the speakers were out of phase. I knew that this was not the case, but checked it out anyway. He then got up off the bench and said to me "Those Leslie's are shot". At this point I could see guys diving for cover, including fellow list member John Harris. But Hey!! my attitude is "The buck stops here"

I was told by Jimmy Smith " The 15" drivers are shot, they be gone"......he said " You know the 15" drivers that face up the way?" "They be gone". I just nodded in reply to all this. He said, "I don't know where you would get any of these. I told him I would have to import them from the States. He then left the stage, not saying anymore.

The production manager of the Festival, asked me what the problem was and I told him that there was not a problem.

Jimmy had been playing full chords and full bass pedal at full volume, with the Leslies set quite high, and that any 147 will give out distortion played in that manner. I also told him that the 15" drivers did not face up the way but in fact faced downwards, and that they were in perfect condition. These guys I work for at the Festivals in Scotland trust me and he simply said "Fine, Mark I will leave it with you". Then John Harris approached me and said " There's nothing wrong with the Leslies!!" "He was flooring the Hammond!!" It was nice to have this technical and moral support from John. I did notice that when Jimmy sat down first of all that the organ sounded just fine......but I feel after he had checked it out, he had to find a problem.....as there was no problem….he invented one. I also feel that he was somehow very gentle with me. I did not find his tone offensive or demeaning in anyway. He was simply stating his case. I feel that he was easy on me simply because of those drawbars been set up in his registration. I think he knew I was a big fan, and that I had bothered to find out what he played.

He did not turn up for the soundcheck, and was told that this was normal behaviour these days.

John and I had also been asked to look after that rest of the backline as the other tech had to leave. I approached the guitarist Steve Homan, to find a really nice guy!! He said that the "B3 looks beautiful". I said "Yeah, but I don't think Jimmy is speaking to me." He asked why, and I told him. He said " Oh Man, I have heard it all before.....things will be fine" He then noticed my Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt, and said "MAN!! I want one of those!!"

He offered to buy one, but I told him that I had one for Jimmy, and didn't have any spare. He was really disappointed. I met Frank Williams THE drummer, a really kewl guy!!, and BOY!! can he play kit!!! The sax player was Bill, (didn't catch his second name) who also was a really nice guy!! We were all joking and enjoying the crack until the end of the soundcheck. I did not see Jimmy again until 10 minutes before show time.

I went to the band dressing room and he was in there talking to the band. He had his back to the doorway and didn't see me approach behind him. He then noticed me and spun round in a Karate stance. I too adopted a Karate stance and told him he was messin' with an ex-Karate champion. He looked at me and said "O.K. You be ma friend then". We had a laugh, and then I told him that the problems at the sound check had been sorted out and that the organ was turned on and set up for him. He nodded. I went to the side of the stage, and waited for him to come on.

The band came on...then Jimmy.....the crowd went mental.....e.t.c.........e.t.c. He sat down and played the
best I have personally heard him play. I have got to say that it was the best B3 I have heard with "upwards facing shot 15" drivers" There were no problems from the B3 or Leslies throughout the whole show. I was not asked on stage once to adjust anything. Everything was perfect.....the organ Leslies....his playing......the band.....everything.

He played a storming set, if not the usual set he plays. He played " Eight counts for Rita" one of my favourites!!....Satin Doll. I have got to admit that I was on cloud nine, and was quite emotional. I had realised a goal, an ambition, to have Jimmy Smith play my B3. This man was the reason I had started the rental business.

Everything that I had ever done on a Hammond, rental , services, repairs, all were with one goal in mind....to get Jimmy Smith's butt on ma organ bench. I have this picture of Smith.......he is facing the
camera, and his eyes are staring right at you. I have looked at this picture for years....saying "One day, Jimmy, one day!" So this day had arrived and nothing was going to spoil it. I didn't sit side of stage for long....I knew after a few numbers that he was "happy", and made my way to front of house, and stood with John and Lars Mikeal Verholt from Denmark, who had come over to Scotland to see Smith and Buddy Guy (Tony Z on B3). We were right at the front, and I was close enough to hit the stage if required.

There were a few moments of angst from Smith. I had been asked to take some photographs for Steve the guitarist in Jimmy's Band, and because I was taking pics (with permission) others decided to also take pictures. I think the flashing annoyed him. He also must have seen a photographer with a zoom lens, and mistook this for a video camera. He asked for the stage lights to be dropped, and was annoyed when the lights came up again. He continued the show in almost darkness.

Jimmy left the stage twice. He left guitarist Steve Homan to do three numbers on his own, which was nice, buy the crowd were becoming restless by the third number. Smith returned and played another three or four numbers, then left the drummer Frank William's to play three drum solos. The crowds was right with him on these solos, and were really getting into it, when Jimmy and the band came back and joined in to finish the solo.

They played another three or four numbers to finish the set, left the stage, but returned for a two number encore. These numbers were "Back at the Chicken Shack", which I shouted at the stage……Jimmy said "O.K. you want Chicken Shack, it's the last number….You got it". The floor soon filled with dancers, and Jimmy went on to sing "Mojo Workin'".

After the show, I went back stage to see Jimmy…..he looked very drained, and I thought to tired to talk at any length. I asked him how the Hammond was after all. He nodded and said, " Yeah, It was O.K." I don't think that I was gonna get any more than that, out of him. I presented him with a Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland) T-shirt which he accepted. I asked him how Lola was keeping, and asked him to pass on my kindest regards. I also told him that Lola had kissed me, when we had met in Edinburgh after his show……but he was to tired to reply. I said my Good-byes to Jimmy, and then turned to Steve Homan and gave him a spare T-shirt that I had found, he was over the moon. I exchanged numbers with Steve, and we said we would keep in touch. I said good bye to the rest of the band, and left.

All in all I enjoyed the day. I will remember it for a long time to come with the very fondest of memories. It was the day that I finally got Jimmy Smith to play my B3.

I got to thank you Sal. Your advice was a great help. I hope to be of service to you someday, something that will mean as much to you, as your help was to me.