Tommy Smith’s Blue Note albums to date have been promising, good in parts but floundering ultimately on the sands of indecision or a too contrived commercial approach. This one is very different; he has got everything together with this release: 12 challenging compositions, brisk ensembles from a strong front line and a crisp, flowing rhythm section.
Phraseology, at 14 minutes the longest track, has good solos from everyone except Stacey but it is the last one, from Smith, that commands attention and finally wraps everything up.
Birth swings mightily, and with Barker’s brassy, ringing trumpet solo, Rebello’s masterly comping and richly inventive, warm textured tenor from Smith, it’s like a contemporary version of vintage Blue Note music. Fragments ventures into free jazz territory with a strong, ‘outside’ solo by Argüelles, enveloping rhythm sparked by Stacey and a blistering tenor segment from Smith. Dischord features a long and very inventive tenor solo with sympathetic rhythm support from Rebello, Hutton and Stacey.
Everybody plays splendidly, although nobody quite matches the leader and the CD is a real scorcher in the best sense of the word. This is Tommy’s best so far by a long way and recommended.
Discography
Dischord; True Sobriety; Reflections; Day Light; Ping Pong; Children’s Play; Phraseology; Tear; Birth; Lost; Fragments; Occidentalism (74.03)
Tommy Smith (ts); Julian Arguelles (as/ss); Guy Barker (t); Mick Hutton (b); Jason Rebello (p); Jeremy Stacey (d). London, May, 1992.
(Blue Note 07777 806 1229)
