Smith signed to the Verve label in 1962. His first album, "Bashin, sold well and for the first time set Smith with a big band, led by Oliver Nelson. Further big band collaborations followed, most successfully with Lalo Schifrin for "The Cat" and guitarist Wes Montgomery, with whom he recorded two albums: ' and "Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes". Other albums from this period include "Blue Bash!" and "Organ Grinder Swing" with Kenny Burrell, "The Boss" with George Benson, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Got My Mojo Working", and "Hoochie Coochie Man".