Softly as a Summer Breeze (album)

Softly as a Summer Breeze is an album by American jazz organist Jimmy Smith featuring performances recorded in 1958 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1965. The album was rereleased on CD with four bonus tracks recorded at a later session.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Softly As a Summer Breeze is one of Jimmy Smith's more obscure Blue Notes... Overall, this CD is not too essential, but it does fill in a few gaps".

Track listing

 * 1) "These Foolish Things" (Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey) - 5:27
 * 2) "Hackensack" (Thelonious Monk) - 5:58
 * 3) "It Could Happen to You" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 6:16
 * 4) "Sometimes I'm Happy" (Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans) - 8:21
 * 5) "Someone to Watch Over Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 6:30
 * 6) "One for Philly Joe" [aka "Home Cookin'"] (Jimmy Smith) - 4:46
 * 7) "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronell) - 3:24 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 8) "Ain't No Use" (Leroy Kirkland, Sidney Wyche) - 2:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 9) "Angel Eyes" (Earl Brent, Matt Dennis) - 3:25 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 10) "Ain't That Love" (Ray Charles) - 2:45 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 26, 1958 (tracks 1-6) and October 14, 1958 (tracks 7-10)

Personnel

 * Jimmy Smith – organ
 * Kenny Burrell (tracks 1-4), Ray Crawford (tracks 7-10), Eddie McFadden (tracks 5 & 6) - guitar
 * Donald Bailey (tracks 5-10), Philly Joe Jones (tracks 1-4) – drums
 * Bill Henderson - vocals (tracks 7-10)