Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio

Born in 1942, Smith was introduced to the Hammond organ in the late-1950s by Art Kubera, who owned a local music store that Smith would visit daily. He began immersing himself in the records of Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett and Jimmy Smith as well as paying rapt attention to the church organ. Smith’s first gigs were at the Pine Grill, a Buffalo club where he came to the attention of Lou Donaldson, Jack McDuff and George Benson, eventually joining Benson’s quartet and moving to New York City.

After the stint with Benson, Smith released his debut album 'Finger Lickin’ Good' for Columbia in 1967 before joining Donaldson’s band and making his first Blue Note appearance on the alto saxophonist’s hit 1967 album Alligator Boogaloo. Two more Donaldson dates followed ('Mr. Shing-A-Ling' and 'Midnight Creeper') before Smith was offered his own Blue Note deal, making his label debut with Think! in 1968. Smith went on to record another four Blue Note albums over the next two years including 'Turning Point,æ 'Move Your Hand,' and 'Drives.'

The marvelous Dr. Lonnie Smith stands tall as the foremost maestro of the Hammond B-3 organ and at the age of 75 still reigns as a master of innovation and experimentation. The 2017 NEA Jazz Master may say that all he does is simply old school, but Smith paints new hues across the canvas of tradition with aplomb, as evidenced on his spirited new, live album 'All in My Mind.'

“It’s so hard to capture what I’m feeling at the moment in the studio. Hearing me live is catching me playing in the moment. It’s a good vibe. It’s a loving situation.” —Dr. Lonnie Smith regarding his new live album, 'All in My Mind.'