JIMMY SMITH — Jimmy And Wes:The Dynamic Duo (review)

JIMMY SMITH — Jimmy And Wes:The Dynamic Duo album cover Album · 1966 · Blues Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
What a pair. Jimmy and Wes are pretty damn good together, just a few minutes in to the opener 'Down by the Riverside' and you'll be convinced.

Before CTI in the 70s, Creed Taylor was producing for Verve when he brought together Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery, (artists he'd worked with before, only separately) and backed them on several tracks with a big band, or at least, a large cast.

I'm often drawn to collaborations, as the better ones yield fantastic and varied results. And on this album, a set of standards, covers and two originals, one from each leader, results are indeed rewarding. What's great about this record is its use of space. In fact, all great albums of any genre use space effectively, usually by refusing to clog or clutter it. Despite a big cast of players, 'The Dynamic Duo' is not cluttered. The rhythm section is quite bluesy and the supporting horns and woodwinds do not overpower the songs, leaving a lot of soloing space for Jimmy and Wes, who support each other very nicely throughout, especially in the songs which feature them in a quartet setting.

Both players' trademark sounds are there, Jimmy's almost gritty Hammond (though not so gritty as it would be years later on 'Root Down') and the clean, sunny strings of Wes. It isn't until '13 (Death March)' where the woodwinds make their appearance, and to great effect, supporting some quintessential soloing from Smith and restrained but smooth lead work from Montgomery. The song is really perfect for a hot summer's day, with your windows down and enough open road not to be bothered by anyone.

'Baby, It's Cold Outside' seems an odd choice to throw into the LP, and is probably the least interesting moment. Trim back 'James and Wes' a minute, no more, and it'd be perfect in my eyes. Otherwise, 'The Dynamic Duo' is a great album, finished off by the outstanding 'O.G.D (aka The Road Song)' with its really rocking solo from Jimmy.

So if you like a good shot of blues thrown into your jazz, then look no further. Four stars.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Utopia Eclectic Fusion
OLIVER LUTZ
Buy this album from MMA partners
Charlie Pyne Quartet : Nature Is A Mother Vocal Jazz
CHARLIE PYNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Norma Winstone & Kit Downes : Outpost of Dreams Vocal Jazz
NORMA WINSTONE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Djabe & Steve Hackett : When the Sound Turns Sweet Fusion
DJABE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Francesca Avant-Garde Jazz
DAVID MURRAY
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Lift
DAVE WILSON (US/NZ)
js· 12 hours ago
Nature is a Mother
CHARLIE PYNE
js· 12 hours ago
Marta Warelis solo @ FourOneOne 5-11-23
MARTA WARELIS
js· 1 day ago
The Chapparrals - Shake Your Head (US, 1978) [Full LP] {Funk, Disco, Soul} ??ULTRA RARE KILLER LP??
THE CHAPPARRALS
js· 2 days ago
Argyle - Art Installation (Full Album)
ARGYLE
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed