Music Lesson: The Organ Grinder's Swing by Jimmy Smith

So this tune is won by Jimmy Smith called "The Organ Grinder's Swing."

Overview:

• A very well-known, recognizable tune.
• Contains moments that are true "Hammond history."
• Recorded in 1965, it stands out as one of his most famous pieces.

Key Elements:

• The tune features:
  • A walk down that is prominent.
  • A blues riff section that also stands out.
• While I've included a bass line, it's not what was originally on the record.

Focus Points:

1. Concentrate on:

   • The rundown
   • The tone
   • The licks that make it distinct

2. From the top, it's something like:

   • A little break follows.

Technical Breakdown:

• Concentrate on the walk down from A flat:

  • Actually playing sixths, not in root position.
  • A flat (Ab) sixth; for example:
    • C, F, A flat at the top.

• The recognizable blues riff at the beginning:

  • Recorded in 1965.
  • One of the moments in tunes associated with a Hammond.

Additional Notes:

• The piece utilizes a lot of blues elements:

  • Slipping off the flat five.
  • Slipping off the minor third.

• The underlying progression has a swinging bass line:

  • A traditional 12-bar blues structure.

Variations in Play:

• One variation involves a dead stop, transitioning:

  • From Ab down to F, then A down to G (still with the sixth).

• Following this, transitions into a guitar solo.

Exploration of Licks:

• There are several variations of blues licks:
  • Notably featuring trills and the recurrence of slipping off the flat five.

Practice Tips:

• Explore specific riffs that are frequently used and repeated:

  • It may seem fast, but the technique often involves simple slips off the flat five and the minor third.

• Phrasing Suggestions:

  • Mix up your phrasing.
  • Pull back or push forward as needed.
  • Don't hesitate to hold and repeat phrases.

The rundowns are integral to the piece, embodying everyday blues organ language, but this is where it really originated.