Higher Ground (Johnny Hammond album)

Higher Ground
Higher Ground
Studio album by Johnny Hammond
Released	1974
Recorded	October 31 and November 1, 1973
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre	Jazz fusion, jazz-funk
Length	35:56
Label	Kudu; KU-16
Producer	Creed Taylor
Johnny Hammond chronology

Higher Ground is an album by jazz organist Johnny Hammond recorded for the Kudu label in 1973.^[1]^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[3]

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".^[3]

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

References

^ Payne, D. Kudu Records discography accessed April 30, 2013
^ Johnny "Hammond" Smith discography accessed April 30, 2013
^ ^a ^b Earlwine, M. Allmusic listing accessed April 30, 2013.

[1] Payne, D. Kudu Records discography accessed April 30, 2013

[2] Johnny "Hammond" Smith discography accessed April 30, 2013

[Allmusic-3] Earlwine, M. Allmusic listing accessed April 30, 2013.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Johnny "Hammond" Smith
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release.
As leader or co-leader	All Soul (1959) That Good Feelin' (1959) Talk That Talk (1960) Opus De Funk (1961) Stimulation (1961) Gettin' the Message (with Lem Winchester, 1961) Johnny "Hammond" Cooks with Gator Tail (with Willis Jackson, 1960) Black Coffee (with Seldon Powell, 1962) Look Out! (with Seldon Powell, 1962) A Little Taste (1963) Mr. Wonderful (1963) The Stinger (1965) Love Potion #9 (1966) The Stinger Meets the Golden Thrush (with Byrdie Green, 1966) Gettin' Up (1967) Soul Flowers (1967) Dirty Grape (1968) Nasty! (1968) Black Feeling! (1969) Soul Talk (1969) Here It 'Tis (1970) Breakout (1971) What's Going On (1971) Wild Horses Rock Steady (1971) The Prophet (1972) Higher Ground (1973) Gambler's Life (1974) Gears (1975)
With others	Angel Eyes (Gene Ammons, 1960–62) Velvet Soul (Gene Ammons, 1960–62) Night Life (Billy Butler, 1970) Taking Care of Business (Oliver Nelson, 1960) For Once in My Life (Sylvia Syms, 1967)