Finger Lickin' Good (180g) (Limited Edition) (Smoke Vinyl) [LP]

Lonnie Smith (1942 - 2021) was an American jazz organist. In the 1950s, he was a member of several vocal ensembles, including the Teen Kings, which included Grover Washington Jr. Art Kubera, the owner of a local music store, gave Smith his first organ, a Hammond B3.

Smith's fondness for R&B blended with his own personal style as he became active in the local music scene. In 1965, he met guitarist George Benson. The two bonded on a personal level and formed the George Benson Quartet in 1966, which also featured Lonnie Smith. After two albums under the direction of Benson, Smith recorded his first solo album "Finger Lickin' Good (Soul Organ)" with George Benson and Melvin Sparks on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone and Marion Booker on drums. This combination remained stable for the next five years.

After recording several albums with Benson, Smith became a solo artist and went on to record over 30 albums under his own name. Numerous prominent jazz artists accompanied Smith on his albums and at his live performances, including Lee Morgan, David "Fathead" Newman, King Curtis, Blue Mitchell and Joe Lovano.

The album "Finger Lickin' Good (Soul Organ)" showcases Lonnie Smith's virtuosity and innovative approach to the organ, with tracks that feature intricate solos and groovy rhythms so typical of the soul jazz and jazz funk genres. Lonnie Smith has been named "Best Organist of the Year" 9 times by the Jazz Journalists Association.