Smith, Lonnie: Live at Club Mozambique (2LP/Blue Note 80) LP

In honor of Blue Note Records' 80th Anniversary, the legendary jazz label is launching the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series. Distinct from the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, this second series curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman features 180g vinyl LP releases in standard packaging with albums spanning the many eras of the label's history presented by themes: Blue Note Debuts, Blue Grooves, Great Reid Miles Covers, Blue Note Live, and Blue Note Drummer Leaders. The series resumes in December 2019 with Part 2 of the Blue Note Live theme  - Jimmy Smith – Groovin’ At Smalls’ Paradise (1958), Lonnie Smith – Live at Club Mozambique (1995) and Lee Konitz – Alone Together (1997) - and will continue with three albums released each month for the coming year.

Recorded in May 1970, this smoldering set of funky soul-jazz by the great organist Lonnie Smith went unreleased until 1995. Captured live at Club Mozambique in Detroit just five months after Smith recorded his excellent Blue Note album Drives, this live date featured a similar line-up with tenor saxophonist Dave Hubbard, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber, and drummer Joe Dukes, with the notable difference being the presence of guitarist George Benson here. On this double album the band stretches out on six Smith originals including "I Can't Stand It" and "Play It Back" along with covers of the Sly Stone song "I Want To Thank You" and Miles Davis' "Seven Steps to Heaven."