[HAM] The "Broken" Organ of JOS - was, Blindfold Test #5

[OF]

At 07:57 AM 2/28/2007, Josh wrote:
> >>The record was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and the organ sounds like 
> JOS's
>old organ from the fifties that had the famously-broken percussion.>>
>
>I was neither aware of, or ever heard of Jimmy's organ having "broken"
>percussion.  Could you please let me know more about this "broken"
>percussion.

Search the archives for that term, plus "Paradise Button," and "Groovin' At 
Small's Paradise."

The latter is a live recording of Jimmy Smith made in late 1957, a 
performance that is so advanced for it's time, so passionate, and just 
plain weird, that the record stayed way under the radar for many years. I 
know more than few people who, at first, couldn't stand to listen to it-- 
cascades of blistering machine-gun runs with a really piercing sound, and 
crazy runs and chords. Jimmy was definitely "ON" that night. What he was 
"on", we'll never know.

Jimmy's first recordings were made, as far as I know, on his own B-2. Then 
he got his new B-3, and whether he did something to the percussion or it 
was simply broken (maybe the 'K' wire was broken?), the result was that the 
percussion did not decay. That didn't stop Jimmy: he clearly reveled in the 
harsh sound. He also made several other recordings with this organ, 
sometimes with the percussion off.

For some time, Jimmy said he didn't remember the details on this. Then, 
towards the end, he reportedly told Joey D. that it was done on purpose. 
Considering Smith's propensity for elaborate BS and bragging, my guess is 
that we'll never know. I still think it was broken.

I liked the sound so much that I rigged up a "Paradise Button" on my C-3 
(disconnects terminal 'K') so I can have that sound at will.