The Magnificent Goldberg

It was Eddie McFadden at Smalls. I've always thought Thornel was a lot better than Eddie. I think Jimmy had Thornel along with him because they'd worked together, for Don Gardner, when Jimmy was woodshedding. That would give Thornel a natural advantage; he was part of the process. Which isn't to say that better players didn't come along after him. MG

I ought to get that album; it's the only PR Dex I haven't got, I think. I remember the notes from reading them in the shop when the album came out in the late '60s (in Britain). Extremely odd. Terribly well written odd. MG

There's no distinction made in the discographies between the two bands on this LP. What there is, is this: JIMMY SMITH (ORG), ERIC GALE (G), RON CARTER (B), GRADY TATE (D), OR JIMMY SMITH (ORG), THORNEL SCHWARTZ (G), BOB BUSHNELL (B), BERNARD PURDIE (D) NYC, 2 & 14 JUN 67 MERCY, MERCY, MERCY V/V6/8705 FUNKY BROADWAY VK10536, V/V6/8705 UNKNOWN TITLE UNISSUED GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN V/V6/8705 MICKEY MOUSE VK10561 RESPECT VK10536, V/V6/8705 T-BONE STEAK VK10561, V/V6/8705 I wish they'd reissue this - I haven't got one. MG

She plays on James "Blood" Ullmer's "Blue blood" - Innerhythmic INR005. A great album and Amina's playing is right there. No recording date but the CD is dated 2001. MG

Phil Upchurch Combo - You can't sit down pts 1 & 2 - with Bubba Brooks on tenor and Cornell Muldrow on organ. Was this the first post-Smith jazz organ hit single? MG

A hard decision, but if it were me, I'd go for Showcase # 4 MG

And because I think he's important and overshadowed. If you want to revolutionise jazz organ playing, be sure you have an innovative guitarist alongside. Jimmy Smith revolutionised jazz organ playing, all right. And he was fortunate enough to have a very innovative guitarist alongside; Thornel Schwartz, who was born on 29 May 1927, in Philadelphia. Listen to Jimmy Smith’s February 1956 recording of “The champ”, and try to forget Smith for eight minutes and just concentrate on what Thornel is doing. Much of the time, he is producing a stream of prodding chords that amounts to a second solo behind and in support of Smith’s playing. If you try that on the live session recorded a few months later at Club Baby Grand, you get a fuller picture of the rapport between two musicians who TOGETHER revolutionised the jazz organ. Thornel studied at the Landis School of Music and made his professional debut at the age of 23 with Ernest Deaton. He later joined Chris Powell’s R&B group, then Don Gardner (for whom Smith also played at the time). He worked with Freddie Cole from 1952 to 1955, before joining Jimmy Smith. After those initial masterpieces, Thornel left Jimmy Smith and was replaced by Eddie McFadden. Sometime in the following three years he began to work with Johnny “Hammond” Smith and played on Hammond’s first two LPs “All Soul” and “That good feeling’”, recorded in 1959. Then in 1960, he was on to yet another revolutionary organist; Larry Young. OK, at the time Thornel was playing with him, Larry had not yet begun to revolutionise the jazz organ in the way he was to do a few years later at Blue Note. But all the signs were there. Between 1960 and 1962, Thornel played on Larry’s first three albums: “Testifyin’”; “Young blues”; and “Groove street”, which also featured Bill Leslie on tenor. He also played on Jimmy Forrest’s first LP for New Jazz, “Forrest fire”. He also played on Bill Leslie’s only album as a leader “Diggin’ the chicks” (with Tommy Flanagan on piano), and made his sole album as a leader “Soul cookin’”, again for Argo, on which Larry appeared under the imperfectly opaque pseudonym “Lawrence Olds”. The cover reveals Thornel as a pipe smoker, unusual among jazz musicians. And 1964 finds him working with Jimmy McGriff! He worked with McGriff from 1964 to 1966, appearing on several of his LPs, then rejoined Johnny “Hammond” Smith in 1967 for several more albums. Late 1967 found him back with Jimmy Smith, playing on Jimmy’s great album “Respect”. Next we find Thornel with Reuben Wilson, in the band Reuben called “The Wildare Express”, before Reuben got his contract with Blue Note. Yeah, and then he went back to McGriff and played on his hit album “The worm”. Then it was off to the West Coast and work with Richard “Groove” Holmes, appearing at The Lighthouse with him and on the LP recorded there, “X77”. Is there a major organist this guy didn’t work for? Yes, but not many; his next gig was with Milt Buckner! “Rockin’ again” was recorded in 1972. Sometime in the ‘70s, he made an obscure record with pianist Joe Johnson, one of only three appearances on disc without an organist (the third was with Big Joe Turner in 1967). And that was the last we hear of Thornel Schwartz. He died on 30 December 1977, aged only 50. But what a career! What an indelible contribution to Soul Jazz this man made! Here’s a list of Thornel’s post-Gardner appearances on LP. Jimmy Smith – A new sound a new star vol 1 – Blue Note BLP1512 Jimmy Smith – A new sound a new star vol 2 – Blue Note BLP1514 Jimmy Smith – The incredible Jimmy Smith vol 3 – Blue Note BLP1525 Jimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand vols 1 & 2 – Blue Note BLP1528 & 1529 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – All soul – New Jazz 8221 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – That good feelin’ – New Jazz 8229 Larry Young – Testifyin’ – New Jazz 8249 Jimmy Forrest – Forrest fire – New Jazz 8250 Larry Young – Young blues – New Jazz 8264 Larry Young – Groove Street – Prestige 7237 Thornel Schwartz – Soul Cookin’ – Argo 704 Bill Leslie – Diggin’ the chicks – Argo 710 Jimmy McGriff – The Christmas album – Jell 1888 Jimmy McGriff – Live where the action’s at – Veep 13515/16515 Jimmy McGriff and the big band – Solid State 17001/18001 Jimmy McGriff – Let’s stay together – Groove Merchant 506 Jimmy McGriff – A bag full of soul – Solid State 17002/18002 Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Ebb tide – Prestige 7494 Big Joe Turner – Singing the blues – Bluesway 6006 Sylvia Syms (with Johnny “Hammond” Smith) – For once in my life – Prestige 7489 Byrdie Green (with Johnny “Hammond” Smith) – I got it bad – Prestige 7509 Jimmy Smith – Respect – Verve 8705 Jimmy McGriff – I got a new woman – Solid State 18030 Wildare Express – Walk on by – Brunswick 754162 Jimmy McGriff – The worm – Solid State 18045 Richard “Groove” Holmes – X77 – Pacific Jazz 20163 Milt Buckner – Rockin’ again – Black & Blue 33043 Joe Johnson – Jazz in Jersey – Darien 1723 MG

Just ordered all three of her albums. Crossing fingers. Cheapo copies from Amazon UK, so should be here next week some time. MG

And where was it I read "Flyin' home" referred to as "Flying house"? MG

Which reminds me that some Black & Blue bilingual sleeve notes used the same method; you have to read the French to understand what they're saying. MG

I didn't need any schooling in being a smartass. It's just a gift I have Nah! Takes a lot of training to make an effective smartarse. When I was at work, one of my responsibilities was smartarse remarks. MG

My first two, bought on the same day, were both by Jimmy Smiff. Go for whatcha know and Compact Jazz - because I missed "Walk on the wild side" so very much and "Bashin'" wasn't available. That was 1989, BTW. MG

Just decided it's my turn to oder these. One has disappeared from CD Baby altogether and one is out of stock. I haven't decided whether to get the two that I can, or wait until they all are back. MG

They haven't got enough hands to do even one... MG

If it's a Dansette, it's more like a Ford Prefect... My claim to fame is that, in 1964, I bought Anne Nightingale's Dansette. MG

That's proper stuff! Good thing it WAS hidden; it wouldn't be there now after decades of scuffing. MG

WoW! What a floor! I can't do ANYTHING like that! MG

I used to love their mis-spellings - Thimk - I still want to type it that way. And some of their surreal concept/phrases - one grunch but the egg-plant. Glad to be reminded of Spy vs Spy. Didn't know Don Martin did that Miles sleeve. MG

Thanks, Mike. The best thing about doing it yourself is you can take your time and do it right. Most contractors are rushing to get to the next job. Unfortunately the floor, although in good shape for being 100 years old, has a lot of nail holes, dark spots, etc. that don't look so good. I think a good, relatively dark stain will hide some of those and still look great. Ah yes, there's only so much you can tell from a photo. Good luck, don't paint yourself into a corner - at least, not one that hasn't got an organ in it. MG

Joe's WP recordings were full of stuff like that. By the way, I think your latest cartoon, the Lauren Hill one, is just a killer! Thanks for the laugh of the day! MG

It looks great! The only thing my wife would say is "don't stain the floor - the colour looks beautifully soft." MG

You've had a bit of a Blue Note mono afternoon What's the distinction between the DG and other BNs? Are the DG ones the very heavy ones? MG

But not Kenny G? MG

Well, it would HAVE to be, wouldn't it? MG

Herbie Mann – Do the bossa nova/My kinda groove Eddie Harris – Plug me in/High voltage Eddie Harris – At Newport/Instant death Including postage and customs, an average of £4GBP per album. WOW! MG