JIMMY SMITH is undisputedly the most important organist in modern jazz history; he was the shining light and the most important innovator of organ playing in modern jazz. The exceptional musician first became known during his musically extremely fruitful years at Blue Note, where he began his musical career in 1956. He revolutionized the use of the B-3 Hammond organ in a way that justifies a division of the history of the organ in jazz into a period before JIMMY SMITH and a period with and after him. He popularized the Hammond sound worldwide and is the idol of many later organists and keyboard players. From 1956 to 1961, JIMMY SMITH recorded material for more than 30 LPs on Blue Note.

This includes the present and previously unreleased album "Straight Life", recorded on June 22, 1961 with the tried and tested trio line-up of organ, guitar and drums. Recorded in the same line-up as the legendary "Crazy Baby" album with Jimmy Smith (organ), Quentin Warren (guitar) and Donald Bailey (drums), the three thoroughbred musicians interpret well-known standards such as "Stuffy" (Coleman Hawkins), "Stardust" (Hoagy Carmichel), "Swanee" (George Gershwin) as well as 4 original compositions by keyboard magician JIMMY SMITH with tremendous "coolness".