Dr. Lonnie Smith: Too Damn Hot!

Splitting the drum duties between Greg Hutchinson and Fukushi Tainaka, Smith keeps things stripped-down and lean, with Rodney Jones providing some tasteful rhythm guitar and Peter Bernstein, who has worked extensively with Larry Goldings and consequently is no stranger to the organ trio, contributing some blues-drenched solo work.

But this is really Smith's show and, over the course of eight original tracks and two standards, he demonstrates how oftentimes one note or one chord is all that is necessary. On the New Orleans second line blues "Norleans" he fronts simple yet soulful lines that express so much with so little. And while Bernstein has the capacity for more chops-laden playing, under the watchful eye of Smith he plays equally economically, squeezing maximum effect out of every phrase. On the title track, which is the epitome of slow burn—a relaxed ballad that seems to simmer just beneath the surface—Smith's concise lines are so behind the beat as to almost fall over; they make the body want to lean back, yet Smith always manages to keeps things upright. And on the aptly-titled "Back Track" Hutchinson plays a light hip hop-inflected rhythm that just succeeds in keeping its balance. Smith demonstrates that it is possible to maintain interest over the simplest vamp with the barest of ideas when one knows exactly where to position one's thoughts.

And just when you think that the album is going to be all soul and light swing, Smith pulls out "Track 9," which, with its insistency and fast walking bass line, is the most intense and adventurous piece on the record. Still, even on an up-tempo tune as this, Smith's solo is the definition of spare.

Smith clearly delineates his blend of approachable, groove-infected music from jazz of the more smooth variety by its lean nature. Some of Smith's material may go down very smoothly indeed, yet there's still some grit that gives it an edge. If some of the '60s soul jazz was progenitor to smooth jazz, clearly there is still a difference. As approachable as Too Damn Hot! is, it's not all about rounded edges and smooth surfaces. On "Your Mama's Got a Complex" Smith sings "She thinks she's hot but she's not" over a greasy groove that would quickly frighten away the contemporary jazz faction. Listenable, yes; but Too Damn Hot! is also all about attitude, something that Smith has aplenty.

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