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Jimmy Smith’s first album for Verve, recorded in 1962, Bashin’ features the organist in two very different configurations - the first with an Oliver Nelson-conducted big band (including up-and-coming trumpeter Doc Severinsen), and the second with Smith’s regular trio with Quentin Warren (guitar) and Donald Bailey (drums.) This historic set was a turning point for Smith’s career, with the track “Walk on the Wild Side” becoming his biggest hit to that point, reaching #21 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
 
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. — (via Label)

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This was the Big One. Since 1956, ‘The Incredible One’ had achieved all he possibly could during a busy eight-year tenure with Blue Note. But it was time to move on. Now on a new label (Verve) where budgets were much bigger, he could stretch out, try new ideas and not be confined to just blues, bebop retreads, gospel, standards and limited distribution. Recorded just two months apart, his Blue Note homage to Fats Waller has its obvious charm but it's Bashin’, which kicked off with the hit ‘Walk On The Wild Side’, a gatefold sleeve and, on four tracks, Oliver Nelson leading the punchy sound of eight brass, five saxes and three rhythm in support of Smith that delivered on all counts. — (via JazzWise)

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Although still a regular Blue Note artist (he would make four more albums for the company within the next year), Bashin' was organist Jimmy Smith's debut for Verve, a label that he would record extensively for during 1963-1972. On the first half of the program, Smith was for the first time joined by a big band. Oliver Nelson provided the arrangements, trumpeter Joe Newman and altoist Phil Woods have a solo apiece, and "Walk on the Wild Side" became Smith's biggest hit up to that point. The final three numbers feature Smith's regular trio with guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Donald Bailey swinging with soul as usual. The historical set was a turning point for Jimmy Smith's career. — (via AllMusic)

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Label: Verve Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Gatefold
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 1962
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bop, Big Band

File under: Audiophile Jazz
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