New York, NY (Top40 Charts) �Evolution,' showcases a variety of organ-soul stylings without sounding like a pastiche or an academic survey... [Smith] demonstrates the versatility and currency of the style.� � The Wall Street Journal
"[Evolution] is populated with raunchy riffs, greasy grooves, soulful sermons,
tidal organ shifts, moody statements, hard-hitting solos, and punchy interjections,
all of which help to enliven throwback songs, standards, and new pieces alike." � AllAboutJazz
Dr. Lonnie Smith has announced a
Spring US tour in support of his new album Evolution, his first album for Blue Note Records since 1970. Evolution, which was released on January 29, marks the return of the legendary Hammond B-3 organ master to the iconic jazz label where he first made a name for himself in the late 1960s, first as a sideman with saxophonist Lou Donaldson on albums including
Alligator Bogaloo, and soon after as a leader with his own soul-jazz classics such as Think! and Turning Point.
On January 12, Dr. Lonnie Smith sat in with The
Roots on NBC The
Tonight Show Starring
Jimmy Fallon to celebrate the release of Evolution.
Smith is headed out on a European tour in February-March followed by further U.S. touring in the spring including an April 6 show at Brooklyn Bowl in NYC. See below for a full list of confirmed US tour dates.
Blue Note president Don Was signed Smith and produced Evolution, which is a robust and spirited collection of seven tunes, including fresh takes on Dr. Lonnie�s favorite originals and standards as well as brand-new excursions that he had never recorded before. Joining Smith are special guests Robert Glasper on piano and Joe Lovano on saxophones, as well as a top-notch band of musicians including reedist John Ellis, trumpeters Maurice Brown and Keyon Harrold, guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg, and the double drummer team of Joe Dyson and Johnathan
Blake (appearing together on five of the seven numbers).
Smith's music has been heavily sampled in hip hop over the years, with Wu-Tang Clan, Madvillain, Beastie Boys, and more all pulling from his catalog for their tracks.
A Tribe Called Quest famously sampled Smith's "Spinning Wheel" for their songs �Can I Kick It?� and �Buggin� Out.�
After releasing his debut album Finger Lickin� Good for Columbia, Smith joined Lou Donaldson�s band and made his first Blue Note appearance on the saxophonist�s hit 1967 album
Alligator Boogaloo. Two more Donaldson dates followed (Mr. Shing-A-Ling and Midnight Creeper) before Smith was offered his own Blue Note deal, making his label debut with Think! in 1968. Smith went on to record another four Blue Note albums over the next two years (Turning Point, Move Your Hand, Drives and Live at Club Mozambique) all of which are regarded as soul-jazz classics.
Smith helped celebrate Blue Note�s 75th anniversary in 2014 by appearing with Donaldson at the historic concert Blue Note at 75 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Some of Smith�s early tracks for Blue Note are collected on the playlist Intro to Dr. Lonnie Smith.
The track listing for Evolution is as follows:
1. Play It Back featuring Robert Glasper
2. Afrodesia featuring Joe Lovano
3. For Heaven�s Sake featuring Joe Lovano
4. Straight No Chaser
5. Talk About This
6. My Favorite Things
7. African Suite
DR. LONNIE SMITH � 2016 US TOUR DATES
March 24-27: Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
April 6: Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
April 7: Side Door Jazz Club, Old Lyme, CT
April 9: Annenberg Center, Philadelphia PA
May 8: Segerstrom Center, Costa Mesa, CA
June 28-July 3: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
