Black Coffee is a live album by jazz organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith which was recorded at the former Monterey Club located at 267 Dixwell Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut on November 8, 1962, and released on the Riverside label.Riverside Records discography accessed November 5, 2012 Smith was a resident of New Haven at the time and wrote the second track, "Monterey Theme" specifically for the club where he frequently performed.
Reception
In his review for Allmusic, Scott Yanow states "Although influenced by Jimmy Smith, this particular organist was also a strong grooving player, able to play both blues and more complicated chord changes... Johnny "Hammond" Smith is heard at his best throughout".Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed November 5, 2012
Track listing All compositions by Johnny "Hammond" Smith except as indicated "Black Coffee" (Sonny Burke, Paul Francis Webster) - 4:19 "Monterey Theme" - 3:03 "I Remember Clifford" (Benny Golson) - 4:15 "Far Away Places" (Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) - 7:14 "Rufus Toofus" - 7:06 "Body and Soul" (Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) - 6:20 "He's a Real Gone Guy" (Nellie Lutcher) - 5:38
Personnel Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Hammond B3 organ Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3 & 5–7) Eddie McFadden - guitar Leo Stevens - drums
References