Soundtracks — All Formats  

An incredible record by Jimmy Smith – unlike anything we've ever heard from him! The session is a rare French soundtrack one – recorded in 1965, in a setting that was quite different than any of Jimmy's American sessions from the same time. According to the notes, Smith was just shown the film, and given free reign to improvise as needed. The result is a set of tracks that at times almost resembles Larry Young's work more than it does any of Smith's sides for Blue Note or Verve – moody and atmospheric tracks that still swing nicely, but have a strong degree of freedom. Rhythm is by Quentin Warren on guitar and Billy Hart on drums – and titles include "Love Theme", "Generique", "Blues Pour Alphonse", "Melodie Pour Catherine", and "Angoisse/Race Track Blues". CD also features 5 bonus tracks from Verve albums of the time, mostly soundtrack related, and including "Man With The Golden Arm", "Any Number Can Win", "Mission Impossible", and "Goldfinger".

Not straight soundtrack work, but a wealth of groovy jazz and vocal cover versions – almost all of them from hip 60s movies, presented here in a really wonderful package! The tunes often have the sort of exotic tinges you might guess from the title and cover – an approach that's somewhat loungey, but never in a sleepy or gimmicky way – thanks to an excellent choice of artists for the set! Instrumentation includes vibes, flute, Hammond, and plenty of percussion – and the balance here has a lot more on the instrumental side than the vocal one – although the tracks with singers are still pretty great too. Titles include "Our Mann Flint" by Herbie Mann, "Moon River Cha Cha" by Barney Kessel, "Exodus" by Quartette Tres Bien, "Kookie's Mad Pad" by Ed Byrnes, "Daktari" by Shelly Manne, "Theme From Lawrence Of Arabia" by Les Baxter, "Never On Sunday" by Calvin Jackson, "Batman Theme" by The Marketts, "It's Not Unusual" by Marty Paich, "Latin Golightly" by Barney Kessel, "A Mann & A Woman" by Herbie Mann & Tamiko Jones, "Alfie" by Dionne Warwick, "Theme From MASH" by Jimmy Smith, "Sunday In New York" by Mel Torme, "Theme From Midnight Cowboy" by Young-Holt Unlimited, and "The Shadow Of Your Smile" by Esther Phillips.