I had taken organ lessons from age 9, but when I heard my first Jimmy Smith record I realized that the instrument was SO much different than I had imagined! He changed my life and I still have a Hammond B-3 in my man-cave, 50 years later. Greatest instrument ever made and its greatest player.

Not long before Jimmy died I went to see him (again) at the Jazz Cafe in London. I was standing right at the front to watch his footwork. The stage was only about 2 feet high. After the first number, as the applause faded he looked down on me and said to me and my partner, who was treating me for my birthday, "Hey, you two little kids? " I looked around and indeed, the crowd behind us all seemed giants. I'm only 5 5 and gf 5 3. Quick as a flash I said, "Jimmy, I first saw you play the Hammond in 1966. I'm no kid. Thanks for the compliment." He grunted. "Where was that gig?" "Birmingham Town hall." " Bad sound." he said. Indeed, the guitar was miced through the pa. It was all out of balance. He remembered it too!.

At a musical instrument industry show (NAMM) in Chicago in the mid-80s, I was among a cluster of fellow mid-20s keyboard players watching Jimmy demonstrate some German electric keyboard. He noticed us and when done playing he walked over and with a big smile shook hands with each of us. We were speechless. Still beaming he said, “So YOU’re the guys who’ve been stealing my licks!” We all laughed.

What year was this again? 1965? Jimmy was a force of nature like none other. This proves it. What soul and spirit , hardly ever seen in music.

Fantastic musician love the Hammond

Great to see this back up on YT - but the original version was even longer - and included footage of Jimmy at home, listening to The Stones Satisfaction in his managers office - before recording it.. would love to see the entire thing again.. James Oscar Smith was the Baddest!

Thank you so very much for uploading this illuminating document.

I saw Jimmy perform several times from 1969 onwards. He was always transcendent

Thanks. Awesome footage. Great to see the giants of jazz in footage.

Fantastic Documentary! Thank you for putting this up

I met the great JImmy Smith at the Vine Street Bar and Grill in Hollywood. He was very engaging and funny as hell.

I am so grateful to these guys. I learned to play listening to them. It's great to see dizzy and james moody. These guys have more soul than they can control. And who would want them to?

this is such a treat! and that glorious "Organ Grinder's Swing" from 5:25 to 6:00 is a gem ... you can find the recorded version with Grady Tate and Kenny Burrell here on uTube

A documentary by the great German filmmaker Klaus Wildenhahn ! Here we have an extract and mix from his two JS-films from 1965 and 1966.

I poured his coffee at Star Seeds Cafe a 24 hour place, adjacent to a Days Inn. Downtown Austin, Texas about Twenty something years ago when he played a 6th street club or there abouts. Many stars, their bands and Hollywood legends rolled in and out.

Has to be Jimmy's best ever trio.

Jimmys Jam was a favorite often played album in my house

Love it! It’s the coolest to see these early sixties scenes, and the sounds! JST was awesome!

a 1a vez que o ouvi foi no rádio AM com "Walk on The Wild side". Aí passei a ter tds seus discos inclusive LPs. E o assisti Live em Sampa no Free Jazz Festival. Amém! Aplausos!

Thank you..full doc..quality..love..a heart of soul xx

PLEASE NEVER TAKE DOWN THIS VIDEO!!

Thank you!!!

19:20 - Jimmy’s incredibly long, skinny fingers gave him a significant mechanical advantage when playing a B3. Unlike all electrified keyboards of the time - no digital instruments like synthesizers came along until the 80s - only the Hammond with its unique and patented tone wheel generators produced an actual analog sound. Its unique and naturalistic voice gave its player the ability to play effective legato solos, strings of single notes like a horn player, with an intrinsic “attack” that rivaled the tonality and percussive power of wind instruments. But it was not until a virtuoso like Jimmy came along and exploited its potential that the Hammond’s unique sound made it a fixture in recording studios around the world.

Jazz Musicians are Really the coolest people on the planet.

Great documentary

The Godfather of the jazz organ.

29:22 Thr statement ‘Discipline is freedom’ hits differently now

Great 👍

When Jimmy met Paul Humphries it was on!

Thanks for the repost. This documentary is priceless. JOS in his prime!

As a sometime rock fan, othertimes jazz fan, I can vouch that none of the rock world's organ players, no matter how good, had anything on JS. The man was a powerhouse.

Vielen danke for this.

excelente video genio saludos desde BAJA CALIFORNIA yeahhhhhhhh

It's really interesting to see this...November '65 and they could feel what was about to happen. Watch this and then some of the Miles Davis concerts from '69 to '73 that are up on YT. What a difference in such a short time.

The Absolute King 👑 there is no other period……RIP JOS

lets go up and get some tea jazz code for lets go get high thanx for this

He was the greatest he was like Honey ❤🎉❤🎉😮😅😅😅.

Guitarist rockin the solidbody! Good choice so the nice archtop didn't get destroyed by the airline. :-)

The boss of the B-3 Hammond: JAMES OSCAR "Jimmy" SMITH, JR. (December 8th, 1925 - February 8th, 2005).

❤

Just realizing that the book on the table at 23:36 was by Wilhelm / Baynes THE I CHING, OR, BOOK OF CHANGES

Anyone know what tune Jimmy is listening to Diz play about 15 min in?

The ultimate B-3 player...period.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🔥😎

🥰

🔥

I wish there was a version of this film without the Teutonic Voiceover, it interferes with the musicians are saying. It's like they break with the Jazz to play some Polka music.

What's up, fellas! Anybody knows the name of the real Soulful tune that starts in 1:12 ? Man, i really want to discover the name of this song! Greetings from Brazil!

19:45 jazz musician sign language 💯

See his road manager Clarence Avante( the black Godfather)

this is a shorter version ! where is the Rudy Van gelder studio part?

Wonder who was reading the I Ching: Book of Changes. Was the 60`s indeed.

Yes!!!!! I'm glad this is back up!! At least half of it! Lol

43:51 was cool as hell!

11:31 please song name.

was it all filmed in germany?,,,it ends with the british national anthem!!....stunning musicians.

It should be noted that this is in German.

What’s the source material? German TV, right?

He was a Bad mama Jammer

Why is Diz on the cover?

arrive at 4:30 for sound check. ok. 3 minutes before the gig 🤣

Holy Jesus and mother Mary….this fuckin’ SMOOOOKES! 🙏🏻 🇨🇦 ❤️ 🎹

Wow, this is great to see although there's way too much unnecessary talking between the music. This whole video could have been just Jimmy playing. He was one of the greatest virtuosos in the entire history of jazz and one of my ultimate musical idols.

8:08 didn't know practice pads already existed !

He looks like Eddie Murphy

German

Not sure I understand the purpose of the race baiter in this documentary. Would have preferred to see the genius of this man. Mr Jimmy Smith.

Shorter version of the original full lenght docu. As an Austrian (German language area) I must say: the German moderation is just embarrassing.

Loved Jimmy but he was dead wrong about the Beatles.

"Organs are for hokey games and funerals" - Thelonious Monk on why he does not play the organ.

I liked his tone. Some riffs were good. Also, he could be extremely repetitive and boring.

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