Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tommy Smith: Blue Smith
Tommy Smith: Blue Smith
ByIn some instances, the pairing of Smith and Scofield does indeed rekindle thoughts of the guitarist’s now legendary early 90’s teaming with tenor sax icon Joe Lovano; however, with this release, the band pursues medium tempo swing-blues motifs along with dashes of post-bop thrown into the mix. Enhanced by a luminescent audio production, Smith and Scofield trade warm bluesy lines atop Penn’s loose rhythms on “El Nino” while they switch gears for the funk-groove piece, “Hubba Hubba” which remains fairly consistent with Scofield’s recent bump, grind and funk induced recordings. “Dr. Sco” features enticing and rapidly executed bop-ish choruses augmented by Smith’s commanding presence and brawny, angular attack. - - Scofield and Smith do exhibit a respectable amount of synergy as the guitarist’s somewhat gruff toned electric guitar voicings and punishing leads serve as a nice foil for Smith’s rich lyricism and noticeably elegant demeanor. However the saxophonist does pack a mighty punch, especially on the four bar blues composition, “Blacken’ Blue”. On this piece the extraordinary bassist James Genus steers the walking blues tempo with his resonant and rather poignant single note lines as Scofield melds fragmented be-bop phraseology with blues driven emotion.
With Blue Smith Tommy Smith adds yet another meritorious chapter to his impressive career. - Last year he performed steamy renditions of Ellington-Strayhorn ballads on The Sound of Love and here, along with a superstar band, Smith provides all the excitement and fireworks that one would expect as we eagerly await his next venture.
* * * * (out of * * * * *)
Personnel
Tommy Smith
saxophone, tenorTommy Smith; tenor & soprano saxophones: John Scofield; guitar: James Genus; acoustic bass: Clarence Penn; drums
Tommy Smith website: www.tommysmith.demon.co.uk
Album information
Title: Blue Smith | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Linn Records
< Previous
A Chat With Eric Alexander
Next >
Meet Carla Bley
Comments
About Tommy Smith
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To