Description
Jimmy Smith – Root Down (Jimmy Smith Live!) – Vinyl Record
Root Down (Jimmy Smith Live!) is a powerful, groove-laden live album by jazz organist Jimmy Smith, recorded on February 8, 1972 at The Bombay Bicycle Club in Los Angeles and released later that year on Verve Records. The album captures Smith in a funky, hard-edged, and electric setting, backed by a younger, more contemporary rhythm section that pushed his signature Hammond B-3 organ sound into new stylistic territory. Though Smith had long been associated with the soul jazz movement of the ’50s and ’60s, Root Down revealed that he was more than capable of adapting to the gritty funk, fusion, and streetwise grooves emerging in the early ’70s.
Backed by an ensemble of rising West Coast musicians—Wilton Felder on bass (of The Crusaders), Paul Humphrey on drums, Arthur Adams on guitar, Buck Clarke on congas and percussion, and Steve Williams on harmonica—Smith plays with fire and intensity throughout the set. The band brings a looseness and urgency that pulls Smith into deeper rhythmic territory, making Root Down feel alive, raw, and deeply in the pocket. It’s a live album in the truest sense—no polish, just a tight unit letting the music burn.
The album opens with the explosive “Sagg Shootin’ His Arrow,” a Smith original that sets the tone: a propulsive, funky groove with layered percussion, crunchy guitar riffs, and that unmistakable B-3 sound leading the way. The standout track is arguably “Root Down (And Get It),” a driving funk jam that became legendary decades later when it was sampled by the Beastie Boys on their 1994 track “Root Down,” helping to introduce Smith’s music to a new generation of hip-hop fans. The Beastie Boys didn’t just sample the track—they named their entire EP after it, a testament to the enduring influence of this live performance.
Other tracks like “For Everyone Under the Sun” and “After Hours” bring in soulful slow-burns and more relaxed bluesy vibes, showcasing Smith’s dynamic control and expressive soloing. Even when the tempo slows, the groove never lets up. The performance feels more like a funk club gig than a jazz recital, and that’s part of what gives Root Down its lasting appeal—it’s raw, rhythmic, and emotionally direct, prioritizing feel over flash.
Root Down is now considered one of Jimmy Smith’s most important and forward-looking albums, a bridge between the soul jazz he helped pioneer and the more aggressive, groove-based jazz-funk of the 1970s. At a time when electric instruments, rock influences, and fusion were reshaping the jazz landscape, this album proved Smith wasn’t just relevant—he was still a driving force, capable of leading a band into bold, visceral territory.
Root Down is much more than just a live album—it’s a funk-infused reinvention of Jimmy Smith’s sound, and a testament to his ability to evolve without losing the soulful essence that made him a legend. It remains a touchstone for organ jazz, jazz-funk, and even hip-hop, and stands as one of the most vibrant recordings of his prolific career.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Sagg Shootin’ His Arrow
For Everyone Under The Sun
After Hours
Root Down (And Get It)
Let’s Stay Together
Slow Down Sagg
