The last time I saw Jimmy Smith play live, in the middle of his upscale blues based set, he played a really beautiful version of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up", with pedal bass and full, inverted chords. It was at the WNOP Jazz Festival just outside Cincinnati in thzehmid-80's.

The fascinating thing about left-handed walking bass is the complete co-ordination of both hands. When done correctly,the notes from the left hand intertwine perfectly with the chords/notes from the right.

Top players, like Joey will briefly switch left hand for left foot if there is a place in the piece requiring alternate lead lines or complex inversions (or a combination thereof).

Ideally, it's not an "either/or situation.

Either way, when you're "in the pocket", there's nothing like it. For anything but walking jazz organ tunes, there sounds like something's missing if just left hand is used.

Russ