The Cat

This album is Mastered for iTunes. The Cat, finds legendary organist Jimmy Smith teaming up with Lalo Schifrin, the Argentinean composer/arranger best known for his film and television scores. Smith, after recording a string of classic small combo albums in the 1950s and early 1960s, released several organ-with-big-band collaborations, including 1964’s The Cat. The album opens with the Schifrin-penned “Theme from Joy House,” where Smith and the grooving rhythm section, which includes bassist George Duvivier and drummer Grady Tate, rip it up as they are backed by hard-hitting horn blasts. Next up is the bristling title track, where Smith shreds on his Hammond B3 and Kenny Burrell lays down some dirty rhythm guitar. There’s a fierce uptempo take on W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues,” while the band takes its time on “Delon’s Blues,” a slice of funky blues-jazz that is a perfect showcase for Smith’s dramatic playing. Eddie Harris’ “Chicago Serenade” gets a cool, swinging treatment that has more nice work from Smith and Burrell. The Cat closes with Harold Arlen ad Johnny Mercer’s “Blues in the Night,” a slinky delight.