Enoch Smith Jr.: This Is What Love Does

When the medium artists use is typically wordless, how do they tell their story? Pianist Enoch Smith Jr.. has confronted this question, turned it over, and not only accepted the challenge, but mastered it. In a follow-up to The Book of Enoch Vol. 1 (Misfitme Music, 2025), Smith continues to joyfully tell his tale through This is What Love Does, his 2026 release. Conceived and executed as an acoustic trio album, the project's nine songs—of which seven are originals—explore family, love, triumph, and grief, in Smith's unique style.

Smith grew up in Rochester, NY immersed in the church, and gospel music. Teaching himself piano as a teenager, he attended Berklee College of Music after high school. Since his debut record in 2010, he has sought to explore the space where jazz, gospel, and modern grooves combine. This is What Love Does is his sixth album as a leader, and he has worked as a collaborator with Mimi Jones, Camille Thurman, and others. 

Joining Smith on the record are his usual accompanists, bassist Kai Gibson and drummer Logan Bogdan. This trio is as cohesive as possible, bringing to mind the tightness of the great Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, and the soulful lilt of the Ahmad Jamal Trio with Jamil Sulieman Nasser and Frank Gant. The only exception to this trio format is the smooth Latin-tinged groove of "When I Think of You," Adding a delightful layer is Paula Winter on auxiliary percussion.

The nuance embedded in each tune is exquisite. Smith uses each tune to give tributes to his three daughters ("L'appel du Solitaire [Drew's Song]," "Little Z," and "Imani"), reflect on conversations with his father ("Pop's Lament"), celebrate the love and dedication of his parents' marriage ("A Time for Love"), and praise his wife for all the different roles she fills in their family (the Kern-Hammerstein standard "All the Things You Are"). There are only two tunes on the record that aren't a nod to Smith's family in some fashion. The lead-off number on the record, "Let's Make It Clear," establishes that this music—whether his jazz trio or the gospel music he's also known for—is rooted in the blues and swing. And "When I Think of You" is a nod to the Washington, DC go-go scene, as well as a tribute to Chick Corea and the influence Corea had on Smith's approach to composition.

If there was a phrase to describe the record, it would be joyful lilt. Coursing through the entire recording, there is a current of optimism, even in moments of quiet, introspection, or familial strain. Smith has a knack for uplifting the gratitude in all aspects of life, and this is buoyed by his bandmates. There are moments when Gibson's bass work is truly exemplary, and Bogdan is a reassuring presence, laying down a firm foundation from the pocket. The only lack in the trio's performance is that Bogdan, at times, is too far in the background; the record could use more of him, whether through solo or even bringing him forward in the mix more.

Overall, this release is one to look forward to. Smith is a tremendous storyteller, weaving a beautiful tapestry of tribute to his family. Smith's acumen truly shows in This is What Love Does.