Johnny "Hammond" Smith - All Soul (1959)

1.Going Places
2.Sweet Cookies
3.The Masquerade is Over
4.Pennies From Heaven
5.Easy Like
6.Secret Love
7.All Soul.

Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ

George Tucker – Bass

Leo Stevens – Drums

Thornel Schwartz – Guitar.

On Johnny "Hammond" Smith's first album as a leader, the organist simply sits himself down in front of a standard guitar-bass-drums trio (featuring guitarist Thornel Schwartz, who had previously worked with Jimmy Smith) and lets rip. The songs are a nice combination of standards, like "Secret Love," "The Masquerade Is Over" and "Pennies From Heaven," along with Smith originals that have a more blues-based, gospel-like air. His playing throughout is excellent, although at this point in his career, his influences (Jimmy Smith -- no relation -- and Wild Bill Davis, mostly) are still clearly audible. In particular, Smith seems to have picked up Jimmy Smith's familiar walking basslines and chunky left-hand chords; however, his lengthy and wide-ranging solos incorporate influences ranging from Bud Powell onwards, suggesting that his early career as a pianist was still coloring his sound. Smith would go on to make better albums, but All Soul is a promising debut,by Stewart Mason.