28. The Incredible Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (1960?)

1. Back at the Chicken Shack *

2. When I Grow to Old to Dream

3. Minor Chant

4. Messy Bessy *

B-

This is another example of the Book failing to play by its own rules. I looked into it and while this album was recorded in 1960, it wasn't actually released until 1963. This is odd to me, because apparently Smith did release a well-regarded album in 1960 cut from the same sessions as this one. So I don't know. I think they probably included this one because of the amusing title and cover (although I suspect many of the albums ended up in here purely because they happened to be in the Editor's record collection). Or because they wanted to provide context for albums released before 1963. The ways of the Book are inscrutable.

That out of the way, I didn't much care for this. It's the perfect example of a good idea stretched to breaking point. The title track is a fun, funky jazz experiment, and then every other song on the album is basically the same. Oh, they'll quote a melody at the start or something, and two of the tracks feature very fine electric guitar, but really this is jazz at its most self-indulgent. There's also the fact that, while many people apparently admire saxophonist Stanley Turrentine's playing on this album, I found it annoying and out of place. I can only listen to a guy noodling along with impeccable technique and absolutely no sense of melody for so long before I start to pull my hair out.

It's annoying, because the central idea of this album is pretty good. And when Smith and the rhythm section lock in on a groove everything falls into place and it's a great listen. If I put this on in the background like I did the other day I quite enjoy it, as you don't really have to pay much attention and it creates a warm and soulful atmosphere. Listening to it again just now on headphones, from start to finish, I became very frustrated. And really, it all comes down to that bloody saxophone. It just doesn't mesh with the rest of the music. The moments when Kenny Burrell lets loose on his guitar (the asterisked tracks) show what this could have been. Then again I suppose what I think it could have been is a Booker T. & the M.G.s album, so what do I know.

This is worth listening to, mind. I do like the organ as an instrument, I just didn't enjoy the aimlessness of the compositions. And really I don't feel too bad about only giving it a "B-" - a contemporary review from Downbeat only gave it three out of five stars, after all.

If you're the sort of person who's in ecstasy listening to long, noodling saxophone solos that drown out an excellent rhythm combo (check those toe-tapping walking basslines!), this is for you. Personally, I loved the first and last tracks but found the rest of the album didn't have much to offer.