Jazz Articles about Walter Smith III

New Sounds - Walter Smith III, John Escreet and Maisha

by Bob Osborne
December 6, 2018

Demonstrating the wide variety of music in the jazz world recent releases from Walter Smith, John Escreet and Maisha are featured on this show. With other material, old and new, in between, there is mixed bag of styles, and, sounds on display. Playlist Walter Smith III “Ask Me Now" from Twio (Whirlwind) 00:00 John Escreet “Broken Justice (Kalief)" from Learn to Live (Blue Room Music) 07:01 Al McLean & Azar Lawrence “Simone" from Conduit (Intofocus) 16:06 Maisha ...

Walter Smith III: Twio

by Phil Barnes
May 2, 2018

The awareness of an audience or home listener is a key rite of passage in the creative development of an artist. Its something that usually becomes an issue as a performer moves beyond that initial creative surge of their early work, that build-up of compositions that led to initial success and attention has been exhausted and audience expectations have grown. So Walter Smith III's decision to revisit classic jazz tunes on this collection was not one that initially quickened the ...

Walter Smith III: Twio

by Roger Farbey
February 9, 2018

The unashamedly retro cover art of Twio accurately signposts the content of this imaginative album's track selection of jazz classics and standards. The only exception to this programme is Walter Smith III's original composition “Contrafact," chordally based on “Like Someone In Love" but given a 5/4 makeover. This involves the twin tenors of Smith and guest Joshua Redman opening the number in unison and progressing to an effervescent treatment adopted throughout the choruses. The two tracks teaming-up Smith and Redman ...

Walter Smith III: Jazz Explorer

by R.J. DeLuke
April 19, 2017

Walter Smith stands straight when he raises his tenor sax to his mouth to embark on a solo, or play enthralling, serpentine, contrapuntal lines in unison with band mates like Ambrose Akinmusire. [Check out “Confessions To My Unborn Daughter" from Akinmusire's When the Heart Emerges Glistening.] It's a muscular sound that emerged from his horn. Authoritative. More than that, his improvisational path when he solos is unfettered and unpredictable. He's praised by his peers as a saxophonist who ...

Walter Smith III: Still Casual

by Mark F. Turner
September 9, 2014

There are countless musicians who perform but few that can make their instruments breathe as melodically as saxophonist Walter Smith III. In the opening track “Foretold You" from his release Still Casual, it's as if his horn is an extension of his thoughts and will--notes burning, graceful and flowing like a stream of ideas. Yet with these obvious abilities Smith is a diligent craftsman whose arduous schedule includes education, tours, and performances within a rotation of rising jazz leaders that ...

Walter Smith III: III

by Mark F. Turner
January 21, 2011

While there are many saxophonists warranting greater recognition, Walter Smith III is consistently emerging as an identifiable voice among the masses. He's been making waves, whether performing across the waters in Spain with bassist Paco Charlin; recording in France on drummer Eric Harland's debut, Voyager Live by Night (Space Time, 2010); with trumpeter Christian Scott for 2008's Live at Newport (Concord); or stints with another trumpeter, Terence Blanchard. Smith's third release further reveals his maturation as a ...

Walter Smith III: Casually Introducing Walter Smith III

by Nic Jones
July 1, 2006

Walter Smith has a whole lot going on here. On this programme of originals and standards, the saxophonist's work is often so far advanced from a harmonic standpoint (in particular) that he manages to carve out his own space in the modern mainstream idiom, and that's no mean feat in itself.

He also likes to take his time, and in these days of often hyperactive-sounding soloists, that's more than welcome, too. He's no apostle of technical display for its own ...