Woo! The master of Hammond B3 Dr. Lonnie Smith is still rockin’ on after over 5 decades of music. In an era when most of the singer-songwriters / rock musicians get totally exhausted after a few albums, jazz musicians like Smith get more refined with age. His new record Rise Up! released this February is a testimony that showcases his immense talent and a solid effort from his six piece orchestra.

Although it’s by no means groundbreaking, Rise Up! is a balanced diet of covers and originals. Two songs from the new album are up for grabs for a taste : the spellbinding closer “Voodoo Doll” and a cover of Eurythmics’ classic “Sweet Dreams”. I’ve had the pleasure of watching him live in Istanbul in trio form last year and I strongly recommend you to catch him live, even if you find straightforward jazz lacking. He’s such a figure!