'Back At The Chicken Shack'

First album featuring an artist that was an organist. The organ has never been quite as cool.

Oddly, for a guy with such renown, Jimmy Smith's birth date is in question. He was either born in 1925 or 1928. Not 1926 or 1927. Those years are right out. Maybe the "5" and "8" were smudged on the birth certificate, although you'd think a "6" could be just as easily smeared on a piece of paper. Or maybe that some family member -- like his father who got him into performing -- would be able to remember.

Smith was formally trained having gone to music colleges after serving in the navy. He also went on to record about 70 albums as the bandleader and also recording with artists from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson.

There's nothing extraordinary about Back at the Chicken Shack other than being good. I don't think it'll blow your mind, but there's way less accessible jazz out there and way worse. Nothing pretentious here.