TOMMY SMITH
Blue Smith
Linn
AKD110

As one might expect, John Scofield’s presence looms large on Blue Smith, but much to Tommy Smith’s credit, he doesn’t totally dominate the session. The basic sound here hearkens back to Scofield’s great quartet dates with Joe Lovano, though Smith’s compositions sound only a little like Scofield’s. Only "Hubba Hubba," "The Blues Blew Blue," and "Dr. Smith" really have that funky, biting obliqueness that Scofield seemed to thrive on a few years back. In general, though, Smith’s writing and playing is rather more introspective than Scofield’s (or Lovano’s). You’d also be hard-pressed to imagine either a solo sax version of "Amazing Grace," or the seemingly Native American-inspired ballad "Rain Dance," on a Scofield CD. As the title implies, the blues dominates, though Smith still manages to throw a few curveballs. For example, "Blacken Blue," a straight blues with a precariously wobbly theme, is taken at a deliciously slow tempo, rather like the dark blues that Miles Davis investigated on "Star People" (Scofield was on that one, too!). Yet, another similarity to the early '90s Scofield quartet is the presence of a crisp-yet-loose, constantly swinging rhythm section. Bassist James Genus and drummer Clarence Penn are accomplished, versatile players who can think on their feet. Both seem to be having lots of fun here. Penn is equally adept at playing ballads, backbeats a la Clyde Stubblefield, and uptempo swing. Scofield, of course, sounds great. He solos convincingly throughout and, like Penn and Genus, he doesn’t coast for one second. Smith wide-open tone still sounds a bit like Jan Garbarek’s, but there are no cool Nordic explorations here. He sticks to the tenor for much of this recording, picking up the soprano only on "Rain Dance." This is a well-played, enjoyable modern jazz recording with more than a few moments of inspiration. Basically a must-get for Tommy Smith fans (they are legion in his native Scotland!), and for Scofield fans. I hope Blue Smith is not a one-off session for this fine band.

Dave Wayne

Track Listing: 1. El Nino; 2. Hubba Hubba; 3. Rain Dance; 4. Dr. Sco; 5. Touch Your Toes; 6. Amazing Grace; 7. Blacken Blue; 8. The Blues Blew Blue; 9. Eeny Meany Miny Mo; 10. Miracle; 11. Dr. Smith

Personnel: Tommy Smith, tenor and soprano saxophones; John Scofield, electric guitar; James Genus, acoustic bass; Clarence Penn, drums