As far as B-3 Hammond organs is concerned Jimmy Smith is the greatest ever at that instrument. Like the best recordings of the greatest period for improvisational jazz that lasted from about 1950 to the late 1960’s, “The Sermon” is only one example of the numerous sessions that many top notch players gathered for, taking turns as leaders and sidemen. On “The Sermon!” Smith is accompanied by the likes such as Kenny Burrell, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Tina Brooks and Art Blakey. It was produced by Rudy Van Gelder for Blue Note, and was Smith’s fifteenth album in three years. “The Sermon” is a bebop-hardbop masterclass and at least a decade ahead of its time.
