The Jazz Organ Scene
USA
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Lonnie Smith
Lonnie (*1942 in Lackawanna/NY) was born into a family with a vocal group and radio program. Smith says
that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical,
and jazz music. He was part of several vocal ensembles in the 1950s, including the Teen Kings.
Art Kubera, the owner of a local music store, gave Smith his first organ, a Hammond B-3.
Smith's affinity for R&B melded with his own personal style as he became active in the local music scene. He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, in 1966. After two albums under Benson's leadership, "It's Uptown" and "Cookbook", Smith recorded his first solo album ("Finger Lickin' Good") in 1967, with George Benson and Melvin Sparks on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, and Marion Booker on drums. This combination remained stable for the next five years. After recording several albums with Benson, Smith became a solo recording artist and has since recorded over 30 albums under his own name. Numerous prominent jazz artists have joined Smith on his albums and in his live performances, including Lee Morgan, David "Fathead" Newman, King Curtis, Terry Bradds, Blue Mitchell, and Joe Lovano. In 1967, Smith met Lou Donaldson, who put him in contact with Blue Note Records. Donaldson asked the quartet to record an album for Blue Note, "Alligator Bogaloo". Blue Note signed Smith for the next four albums, all in the soul jazz style, including "Think" and "Turning Point". In the mid-1970s, Lonnie Smith converted to Sikhism. Smith has also been referred to from around that time as "Dr. Lonnie Smith" although the honorific does not represent an academic doctorate degree. Smith toured the northeastern United States heavily during the 1970s. He concentrated largely on smaller neighborhood venues during this period. His sidemen included Ronnie Cuber, Dave Hubbard, Bill Easley and George Adams on sax, Donald Hahn on trumpet, George Benson and Larry McGee on guitars, and Joe Dukes, Sylvester Goshay, Phillip Terrell, Marion Booker, Jimmy Lovelace, Charles Crosby, Art Gore, Norman Connors and Bobby Durham on drums. Smith has performed at several prominent jazz festivals with artists including Grover Washington jr, Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Donaldson and Ron Holloway. He has also played with musicians outside of jazz, such as Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Etta James, Joan Cartwright, and Esther Phillips. He was named the "Organ Keyboardist of the Year" in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009 by the Jazz Journalist Association. Lonnie passed away on 28 September 2021. from Wikipedia |
| contact: | info@drlonniesmith.com |
| homepage: | www.drlonniesmith.com |
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Red Soul Prestige 7473 released 1966 recorded December 1965 in New York City/USA |
Red Holloway, tenor sax Norman Simmons, piano Lonnie Smith, organ George Benson, guitar Paul Breslin, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Ray Lucas, drums Frank Severino, drums |
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It's Uptown Columbia CS 9325 released 1966 recorded February through March 1966 in USA |
George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Jimmy Lovelace, drums Ray Lucas, drums |
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The George Benson Cookbook Columbia CS 9413 released 1967 recorded August through October 1966 in USA |
George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Benny Green, trombone Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Jimmy Lovelace, drums Marion Booker, drums |
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Alligator Bogaloo Blue Note BST 84263 released 1967 recorded April 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Lastie sen, cornet George Benson, guitar Leo Morris, drums |
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Mr. Shing-A-Ling Blue Note BST 84271 released 1967 recorded October 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Jimmy "Fats" Ponder, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Blue Mitchell, trumpet Leo Morris, drums |
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Finger Lickin' Good Columbia CS 9496 released 1967 recorded May 1967 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ King Curtis, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Blue Mitchell, trumpet George Benson, guitar Marion Booker jr., drums |
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The Midnight Creeper Blue Note BST-84280 released 1968 recorded March 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Blue Mitchell, trumpet George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Leo Morris, drums |
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Think! Columbia CS 9496 released 1968 recorded July 1968 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Lee Morgan, trumpet David Newman, tenor sax, flute Melvin Sparks, guitar Marion Booker jr, drums Henry Brown, timbales Willie Bivins, conga Noberto Appelaniz, conga |
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Turning Point Blue Note BST-84313 released 1969 recorded January 1969 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Lee Morgan, trumpet Julian Priester, trombone Bennie Maupin, tenor sax Melvin Sparks, guitar Leo Morris, drums |
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Move Your Hand Blue Note BST-84326 released 1970 recorded August 1969 at Club Harlem in Atlantic City, NJ/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ, vocal Rudy Jones, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Larry McGee, guitar Silvester Goshay, drums |
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Everything I Play Is Funky Blue Note BST-84337 released 1970 recorded January 1970 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Blue Mitchell, trumpet Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Idris Muhammad, drums |
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Drives Blue Note BST-84351 released 1970 recorded January 1970 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Dave Hubbard, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Larry McGee, guitar Joe Dukes, drums |
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Mama Wailer King Records KU-02, reissue KICJ 8104 released 1971 recorded July 1971 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Danny Moore, trumpet, flugelhorn Grover Washington jr, tenor sax, flute Marvin Cabell, tenor sax Dave Hubbard, tenor sax George Davis, guitar Robert Lowe, guitar Jimmy Ponder, guitar Ron Carter, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Billy Cobham, drums William King, percussion Airto Moreira, percussion Richard Pratt, percussion |
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Afro-Desia Groove Merchant GM-3308 released 1975 recorded 1975 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Jamey Huddad, drums, percussion Ben Riley, drums Joe Lovano, tenor sax, soprano sax Ralphe Armstrong, bass Ron Carter, bass Gerg Hopkins, trumpet |
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Keep On Lovin' Groove Merchant Records GM 3312 released 1976 recorded August 1976 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, piano, keyboards, vocals Bob Babbitt, bass Will Lee, bass Rick Morotta, drums George Young, flute, alto sax Lew Del Gatto, flute, baritone sax Fred Griffen, french horn Jerry Friedman, guitar Lance Quinn, guitar Jimmy Maelen, percussion Joe Lovano, tenor sax Barry Rogers, trombone David Taylor, bass trombone Alan Rubin, trumpet Randy Brecker, trumpet |
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Funk Reaction Lester Radio Corp. LRC 9317 released 1977 recorded June 1977 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, keyboards, vocals Eddie Daniels, tenor sax Richie Hohenburger, guitar Lance Quinn, guitar Jerry Friedman, guitar Richie Hohenberger, guitar Bob Babbitt, bass Will Lee, bass Francisco Centano, bass Jim Finnen, bass Alan Schwartzberg, drums Jimmy Young, drums Gary Mure, drums Steve Gadd, drums |
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Gotcha' Lester Radio Corp. LRC 9323 released 1978 recorded 1978 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, piano, organ, synthsizer Tom Browne, trumpet Alvin Flyth, sax Curtis Weaver, guitar Jerry Friedman, guitar Jay Berliner, guitar Neil Jason, bass Peter Caccamo, bass Hal Lichenbaum, drums Brian Blake, drums Jimmy Maelen, percussion |
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Flavors America 6145, reissue Musidisc 5008028 released 1979 recorded 1976 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ, vocal, synthesizer Greg Hopkins, trumpet Joe Lovano, tenor sax George Benson, guitar Ron Carter, bass Ralph Armstrong, bass Ben Riley, drums Jim Haddad, congas, percussion |
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When The Night Is Right Chiaroscuro CR 2019 released 1980 recorded 1975, 1976 and 1979 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, piano, organ, synthsizer orchestra conducted by Bard Baker Joe Lovano, tenor sax George Benson, guitar and many more |
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Lenox And Seventh Black & Blue 33178 released 1985 recorded May 1985 in Paris/France |
Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Alvin Queen, drums |
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So Many Stars Milestone M-9132 released 1985 recorded 1985 in Rutherford, NJ/USA |
Jimmy Ponder, guitar Ken Warner, keyboards Lonnie Smith, organ David Eubanks, bass Scott Lee, bass Greg Bandy, drums Victor Jones, drums Mino Cinelu, percussion |
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In A Jazz Tradition Emarcy 836369-1 released 1988 recorded November 1987 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Eric Gale, guitar Houston Person, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Ron Carter, bass Grady Tate, drums |
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To Reach A Dream Muse 5394 released 1991 recorded July 1988 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and June 1989 in Rutherford, NJ/USA |
Jimmy Ponder, guitar Greg Bandy, drums Lawrence Killian, percussion Geary Moore, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ |
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Come On Down Muse MCD 5375 released 1991 recorded September 1990 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Jimmy Ponder, guitar Houston Person, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Winard Harper, drums Sammy Figueroa, congas |
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Play The Right Thing Milestone MCD-9190-2 released 1991 recorded December 1990 in New York City/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax, vocal Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Bernard Purdie, drums Ralph Dorsey, conga |
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Sonny Lester Collection LRC CDC9032 released 1991 recorded 1991 |
Lonnie Smith, organ, piano, synthsizer Hal Litchenbaum, drums Brian Blake, drums Neil Jason, bass Peter Caccamo, bass Curtis Weaver, guitar Jerry Freidman, guitar Jay Berliner, guitar Jimmy Maelen, percussion Alvin Flyth, sax Rubens Bassini, percussion Alan Schwartzberg, drums Jimmy Young, drums Gary Mure, drums Steve Gadd, drums Will Lee, bass Francisco Centano, bass Jim Finnen, bass Pat Rebillot, keyboards Paul Griffin, keyboards Sam Johnson, keyboards Moe Daniel, keyboards Yaron Gershovsky, keyboards Lance Quin, guitar Richie Hohenberger, guitar and horn section |
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Afro Blue Venus Records TKCV-79022 released 1994 recorded June 1993 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ John Abercrombie, guitar Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums |
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Caracas Milestone MCD 9217-2 released 1994 recorded July 1993 in New York City/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Kenny Washington, drums Ralph Dorsey, conga |
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Purple Haze Music Masters 65135 released 1995 recorded March 1994 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ John Abercrombie, guitar Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums |
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Sentimental Journey Columbia 478117-2 released 1995 recorded August 1994 in New York City/USA |
Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Fukushi Tainaka, drums Ray Mantilla, congas, bongos |
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Live At Club Mozambique Music Masters 65158 released 1995 recorded live May 1970 at Club Mozambique in Detroit, MI/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Dave Hubbard, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax George Benson, guitar Joe Dukes, drums Gary Jones, conga Clifford Mack, tambourine |
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Foxy Lady Music Masters 65158 recorded March 1994 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ John Abercrombie, guitar Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums |
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Organic Grooves Hip Hop Essence HIBD S010 recorded January 1996 in New York City/USA |
Joey DeFrancesco, organ Lonnie Smith, organ Idris Muhammad, drums Tony Purrone, guitar Kenny Garrett, alto sax Grover Washington jr, tenor sax |
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A Look Within Blue Note CDP 72438 36490-2 recorded February 1996 in New York City/USA |
Javon Jackson, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Cassandra Wilson, vocals Fareed Haque, guitar Peter Washington, bass Billy Drummond, bass Cyro Baptista, percussion |
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One Foot In The Blues Rounder 2144 recorded June 1996 in New Orleans, LA/USA |
Johnny Adams, vocal Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Jimmy Ponder, guitar Ed Petersen, tenor sax Donald Harrison jr, alto sax Jamil Sharif, trumpet Shannon Powell, drums |
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Bongobop hip bop HIBD 8017 recorded in New York/USA |
Doug Carn, organ Joey DeFrancesco, organ Reuben Wilson, organ Lonnie Smith, organ Idris Muhammad, drums Josh Roseman, trombone Michal Urbaniak, violin Papa Pepin, bongos Bob Franceschini, clarinet Jorge Sylvester, alto sax |
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So What!! WEA – 0630 18790 2 |
Ximo Tébar, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Billy Brooks, drums Loti Lewis, vocals Santi Navalon, drums Jesus Gabaldon, bass |
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Homepage Warner Musdic Spain WE833 |
Ximo Tébar, guitar Santi Navalón, piano, organ, keyboards, drums, percussion Jesus Gabaldón, bass Idris Muhammad, drums Aristides Abreu, guitar Joey DeFrancesco, Hammond B-3 organ, trumpet Ramón Cardo, tenor sax, soprano sax Ricardo Belda, keyboards Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Jorge Pardo, soprano sax, flute Sole Giménez, vocal Joan Amèric, vocal Lydia Wellington, vocal Carles Benavent, bass Digest Jazz Vocal Ensemble Anna Guizikova, vocals |
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Live At Smoke Jazz Club Smoke Jazz Club, bootleg recorded live November 1999 at Smoke Jazz Club, New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax George Benson, guitar Joe Farnsworth, drums |
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The Turbanator 32 Jazz 32209 recorded July 1991 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Lonnie Smith, piano, organ Houston Person, tenor sax Jimmy Ponder, guitar Buster Williams, bass Buddy Williams, drums |
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Modern Man Delmark DE-530 recorded June 2000 in Chicago, IL/USA |
Bobby Broom, guitar Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Idris Muhammad, drums |
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Goes Blue Nuevos Medios NM 15 809 CD |
Ximo Tébar, guitar Lou Donaldson, tenor saxophone Lonnie Smith, organ Idris Muhammad, drums |
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The Spirit Speaks Justin Time 155 recorded September 2000 |
Ed Cherry, guitar Joe Ford, sax Lonnie Smith, organ Nasheet Waits, drums Laird Jackson, vocals |
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Soul Manifest Blue Note 72435 30499 2 8 recorded January 2001 in New York City/USA |
Ed Cherry, guitar Joe Ford, sax Lonnie Smith, organ Nasheet Waits, drums Laird Jackson, vocals |
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Secret Agent Men Sons of Sound Productions 20012 recorded 2002 in USA |
Akira Tana, drums Rodney Jones, guitar Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Rufus Reid, bass Chuggy Carter, percussion Robert Kenmotsu, flute, soprano sax, tenor sax |
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Live At The Blue Note ProJazz CD629 recorded live November 1986 at the Blue Note in New York City/USA |
Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Lonnie Smith, organ Randy Brecker, trumpet Ronnie Burrage, drums |
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Boogaloo To Beck Scufflin' Records 8481 recorded 2003 in Mamaroneck, NY/USA |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond organ David "Fathead" Newman, tenor sax Doug Munro, guitar Lafrae Sci, drums |
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Easy Does It Milestone Palmetto Records PM2093 recorded September/October 2002 in Pipersville, PA/USA |
Javon Jackson, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Fred Wesley, trombone Mark Whitfield, guitar |
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Coast To Coast Milestone MCD-9335-2 recorded February 2003 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA |
Red Holloway, tenor sax, alto sax Frank Wes, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Paul Humpgrey, drums |
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Hammond Rens ILK Music BM200301 recorded in Denmark |
Kresten Osgood, drums Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Anders Provis, percussion Michael Blake, soprano sax, tenor sax |
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Crash - The Doctor Is In Cellar Live CL090603 recorded live September 2003 at The Cellar in Vancouver/Canada |
Cory Weeds, alto sax Jerry Cook, tenor sax Dave Sikula, guitar Mark Humeniuk, bass Bernie Arai, drums Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ |
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Too Damn Hot Palmetto PALM2105 recorded January 2004 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Greg Hutchison, drums Fukushi Tainaka, drums Rodney Jones, guitar |
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Straight From The Source Bright Soul Records 1011 recorded November 2004 in Roanoke, VA/USA |
Cyrus Pace, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ René Marie, vocals Adam Clark, drums, percussion |
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Greasy Street Zoho ZM 200511 recorded 2005 in Stamford, CT/USA |
Richie Hart, guitar Rick Petrone, bass Joe Corsello, drums Clifton Anderson, trombone Pete Levin, keyboards Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Jerry Weldon, tenor sax |
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Jungle Soul Palmetto Records 2119 recorded November 2005 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Matt Balitsaris, guitar Allison Miller, drums, percussion |
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Live at Symfoniker Gothenburg no label recorded live March 2008 in Göteborg/Sweden |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ, vocals Joey DeFrancesco, Hammond B-3 organ, trumpet Massimo Farao, piano Byron Landham, drums |
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The Art Of Organizing Criss Cross Records 1318 recorded December 1993 in USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Billy Drummond, drums |
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Rise Up! Palmetto PM 2138 May 2008 in Bucks County, PA/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ, vocals Peter Bernstein, guitar Matt Balitsaris, guitar Donald Harrison, alto sax Herlin Riley, drums James Shipp, percussion Jo Lawry, vocals |
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Spiral Palmetto PM 2142 recorded January 2010 in Buck's County, PA/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Jamire Williams, drums |
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The Healer Pilgrimage Productions PCD001 recorded June 2011 in Hungary, January 2012 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Jamire Williams, drums |
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In The Beginning Pilgrimage Productions PCD002 recorded March 2012 in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ, vocals Ed Cherry, guitar Jonathan Blake, drums Little Johnny Rivero, congas Andy Gravish, trumpet Ian Hendrickson-Smith, alto sax John Ellis, tenor sax Jason Marshall, baritone sax |
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Live at the Kennedy Center bootleg recorded live 06 October 2012 at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club, Washington, D.C./USA |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Jamrie Williams, drums |
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That's What You Say! Unique Records UNIQ198-2 recorded summer 2012 in the Netherlands |
Linda Bloemhard, vocals Rolf Delfos, alto sax, soprano sax Guido Nijs, tenor sax Jan van Duikeren, trumpet Berthil Busstra, synthesizers, clavinet Ton van der Kolk, bass Phil Martin, drums, percussion Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ |
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Evolution Blue Note 002427502 recorded 2015 in Brooklyn, NY/USA |
Lonnie Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Jonathan Blake, drums Maurice Brown, trumpet Joe Dyson, drums Robert Glasper, piano Keyon Harrold, trumpet Peter Jessen, soprano sax John Ellis, bass clarinet, tenor sax, flute Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Joe Lovano, soprano sax, tenor sax |
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All In My Mind Blue Note 6721872 recorded summer 2017 at Jazz Standard in New York City/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Johnathan Blake, drums Joe Dyson, drums Alicia Olatuja, vocals |
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Breathe Blue Note B003327702 recorded in Miami, FL, Hollywood, CA, and New York, NY/USA |
Lonnie Smith, organ John Ellis, tenor sax Jason Marshall, baritone sax Robin Eubanks, trombone Sean Jones, trumpet Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Johnathan Blake, drums Richard Bravo, percussion Alicia Olatuja, vocals Iggy Pop, vocals |
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