Higher Ground (Johnny Hammond album)

Updated on Oct 26, 2023

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Released 1974 Higher Ground (1973) Gambler's Life (1974) Release date 1974 Label Kudu		Length 35:56 Artist Johnny "Hammond" Smith Producer Creed Taylor Genre Jazz

Recorded October 31 and November 1, 1973 Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs Similar Johnny "Hammond" Smith albums, Jazz albums

Higher ground johnny hammond

Higher Ground is an album by jazz organist Johnny Hammond recorded for the Kudu label in 1973.

Reception

The Allmusic site awarded the album 2 stars stating "Some of the arrangements seem, well... arranged, but as soon as Smith kicks in, the groove is established".

The song "Big Sur Suite" has been sampled multiple times including The Beastie Boys "Pass the Mic" and Dr. Dre in "A Nigga Wit a Gun".

Track listing

"Catch My Soul" (Jack Good, Tony Joe White) - 7:19
"Summertime/The Ghetto" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward/Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson) - 10:06
"Higher Ground" (Stevie Wonder) - 10:33
"Big Sur Suite" (Johnny "Hammond" Smith) - 9:04

Personnel

Johnny Hammond - organ, electric piano

Wayne Andre, Tony Studd - trombone

Paul Faulise, Alan Raph - bass trombone

Jon Faddis, John Frosk, Alan Rubin - trumpet

Marvin Stamm - trumpet, flugelhorn

Ray Alonge - French horn

Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone

Hank Crawford - alto saxophone (track 4)

Eddie Daniels - clarinet

Romeo Penque - alto flute, oboe

Eli Carmen - bassoon

Bob James - electric piano, organ, mellotron, arranger, conductor

George Benson - guitar (tracks 2-4)

Ron Carter - bass, electric bass

Jack DeJohnette (track 4), Steve Gadd (tracks 1-3) - drums

Phil Kraus, Ralph MacDonald - percussion

Production

Creed Taylor - producer

Rudy Van Gelder - engineer

Songs

1Catch My Soul7:17
2Summertime / The Ghetto9:52
3Higher Ground10:32

References

Higher Ground (Johnny Hammond album) Wikipedia

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