Jimmy Smith


I notice something on various Jimmy Smith CDs and on a reel to reel I listen to that is unpleasant. When he plays his organ there is often what sounds like severe distortion. This happens during loud or soft points, but more often at loud points in the music. Is this just the way his organ sounded or are the recordings flawed? I can't imagine that all of these recordings just happen to be flawed.

If this is just the way his organ sounded, was he trying to get that sound or was there some other, uncontrollable factor? Has anyone here seen him live that can confirm wether the nasties are or aren't an artifact of the recording?
ketchup
Here's a description of the Hammond B3. What you're hearinng is probablyy a combination of stops with plenty of odd harmonics and the use of the volume pedal. I've never played a B3, but I know it's capable of making a very distorted, overdriven sound. If you Google Hammond B3 you'll find tons of other info. It's a very unique and well loved instrument.
On "The Sermon", there are a few moments in which the organ sounds like it's making an awful electronic honking sound. I originally thought this was a mistake in the recording, but I later realized it's a sound that was coming naturally from the organ.