Jazz Articles about Walter Smith III

About Walter Smith III

Radio & Podcasts

Walter Smith III: Driving Modern Jazz With An Unyielding Voice

by Stephen Braunginn
April 25, 2026

From his early beginnings at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston to leadership roles at Berklee College of Music, Walter Smith III shares stories from his journey and discusses his commitment to gender equity in jazz. We take a deep dive into his album three of us are from Houston Reuben is not (Blue Note, 2024) featuring Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland, exploring the significance behind the music and composition titles. Hear about ...

Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Smith, Barakan, LDL, Harrington Jaffe & Shiroishi, And More

by Bob Osborne
April 16, 2026

This playlist of all new releases offers a sophisticated journey through the expansive landscape of contemporary and classic jazz, seamlessly transitioning between structured elegance and avant-garde exploration. Listeners are invited to traverse a sonic terrain that ranges from intimate, tradition-steeped trio performances and lush big band arrangements to the more challenging, textural fringes of free improvisation. Whether grounded by melodic warmth or propelled by experimental rhythmic structures, the collection captures a broad spectrum of instrumental dialogue, celebrating both the quiet ...

Radio & Podcasts

Walter Smith III, Paul Keller Orchestra, Javon Jackson, Bria Skonberg and more

by Benjamin Boddie
April 9, 2026

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Walter Smith lll, Paul Keller Orchestra, Javon Jackson, Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman, Jenny Klukken, Jon Gold, Bria Skonberg, Stacey Kent, Arvind Ramdas, Yelena Eckemoff, Julian Davis Reid, Sam Yahel, Jazzlab Orchestra, Lisanne Lyons, Nicole McCabe, Corcoran Holt, Jeremy Pelt, Aubrey Johnson, Steven Husted, NOLA Resistance Quintet, LehCats, Dave Slonaker Big Band, Joel Ross, Flying High, Darren Litzie, Hendrik Meurkens, Ulysses Owens Jr., The Sistering, Pat Bianchi, The Interplay Jazz Orchestra, Stephen Philip Harvey, ...

Album Review

Walter Smith III: Twio Vol. 2

Read "Twio Vol. 2" reviewed by Jack Kenny

by Jack Kenny
March 5, 2026

Walter Smith III is a deceptive musician. His deep jazz roots and distinctive tenor saxophone tone mask a technique that is both complex and understated. Smith rewards attentive listeners; his mastery lies in refinement rather than display. One of the pleasures of following Smith's career is hearing him change. Though no longer a young newcomer, he continues to evolve. His tone and timbre have matured, his rhythmic command has become more supple, and his avoidance of theatrics has ...

Album Review

Zhengtao Pan Jazz Orchestra: Scenery in My Story

Read "Scenery in My Story" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 6, 2025

Zhengtao Pan, born in Shanghai, China, less than twenty-five years ago, was already well-known as a designer of video games when he chose to move to Boston, MA, to study jazz composition at the Berklee College of Music. Scenery In My Story is Pan's debut recording as leader of his Jazz Orchestra, and as its title suggests, the music is personal and thematic, tracing in solicitous terms Pan's impactful voyage from Shanghai to Boston. Intimate, yes, but ...

Radio & Podcasts

Walter Smith III, Patricia Brennan, Alexi Tuomarila, Nacka Forum & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
February 1, 2025

Your cyber-dial is tuned on the digital frequencies of All About Jazz and our playlist is full of gorgeous new jazz for you... which means that you're listening to Mondo Jazz, coming to you with another truckload of gorgeouns new releases.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Alexi Tuomarila “Towards Dark Light" Departing the Wasteland (Edition) 0:16 Host talks 6:55 Patricia Brennan “Five Suns" Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic) 8:24 Host ...

Album Review

Jon Gordon: 7th Ave South

Read "7th Ave South" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
November 29, 2024

Some of life's moments, even when buried in the past, remain almost as fresh and memorable as today's. Such is alto saxophonist Jon Gordon's memory of his first visit to New York City's then-jazz center, Greenwich Village's 7th Avenue South, which was “the first place [he] ever heard live jazz in New York." That was in 1983--nearly four decades ago--but that memory and those that followed were enough to inspire Gordon's latest album, appropriately titled 7th Ave South.