The tracks that make up
Straight Life had been sitting in the Blue Note vaults since they were recorded on June 22, 1961, representing the only recorded output that year by
Jimmy Smith and his trio of the era, which included guitarist
Quentin Warren and drummer
Donald Bailey. Somehow these ten songs got lost in the shuffle between the 1960 Blue Note date
Crazy! Baby and
Smith's leap into the national spotlight with his first Verve release,
Bashin', in 1962. The trio swings along on six standards and three originals "Straight Life," "Jimmy's Blues," and two versions of "Minor Fare." Although not in the same league as
Midnight Special or
Prayer Meetin', it's great to hear this long lost hard bop session from the master of the Hammond B-3. ~ Al Campbell