Once an overlooked late Verve album, now a solid classic – and easily one
of the funkiest albums ever from organist Jimmy Smith! The groove here is far different than the more familiar Jimmy Smith Verve sessions
of the 60s – and the tracks open up in a really extended mode – vamping and jamming with a definite influence from funk, as Jimmy and the combo explore some
of the hippest corners
of their sound! Players include Paul Humphrey on drums, Wilton Felder on bass, and Arthur
Adams on guitar – plus a bit
of harmonica from Steve Williams – and there's almost les
sons learned here from some
of the Latin funk going on in the LA scene
of the time. The set was recorded live, and features the great title cut – "Root Down" – a long drawn out groover with a slow funk feel that was made famous by a Beastie Boys sample years back – and other great cuts include "Slow Down Sagg", "Sagg Shootin His Arrow", and "Let's Stay Together". The CD features a nice amount
of bonus material – including full unedited performances
of "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow", "Slow Down Sagg", and "Root Down", plus the cuts "For Everyone Under The Sun" and "Let's Stay Together".