Even if Fats Waller had been associated with the Hammond organ jazz (he prefered pipe-organs), this hommage to Fats is only connected to the melodies. With Quentin Warren on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums, this is a hell of a tribute to Waller - mellow laidback and uptempo tunes with various JOS organ registrations using single lines and block chords playing. The Reid Miles coverart is of high Blue Note quality (like many Blue Note albums)and this LP like Japanese Blue Note CD outing is a jewel in the JOS discography (and priced in that category also). When can Blue Note understand that there's a huge JOS reissue market outside of Japan? Be aware that Applause records published this music on CD years ago with no coverart from Blue Note...if you should by this CD on Ebay.

Jimmy Smith, who re-defined jazz organ in the 1950's and 1960's, never recorded a bad album (although he did record some mediocre ones after 1970). This album will please many Smith fans for its selection of classic tunes and disappoint some Waller enthusiasts.

Fats Waller (1904-43) was the first organist in jazz. Additionally, Waller wrote 300+ songs, including several keyboard instrumentals. However, only two of the seven selections here were written by Waller - although all had been recorded by Waller.

Fats Waller swung as hard as any pianist ever and his left hand had enormous power and drive. However, Jimmy Smith never tries to play anything resembling stride, seldom using his left hand other than to change registration.

Fats Waller recorded over 600 songs, so any tribute album must be selective. However, this album is just plain skimpy, logging in at a mere 35 minutes.

On this CD, rhythm guitarist Quentin Warren offers workman-like support, but never solos. The superb drummer Donald Bailey provides tasteful timekeeping, but likewise never gets a chance to solo or have meaningful interchanges with Smith. [Note: If you want to hear Smith at his best, I recommend Back at the Chicken Shack from 1960. Smith shines when challenged by Stanley Turrentine (tenor) and Kenny Burrell (guitar).]

The unique CD has Smith playing hits of an earlier era, but it is sometimes light on swing and short on energy (particularly in the first three selections). This brief album will appeal mainly to Smith collectors and curiosity seekers.