Customer Reviews

Smithville

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just a quick note to add to the previous customer review of "Smithville," which is from 2001 and pertains to an earlier import incarnation of this fine album. Nothing written below is incorrect, but the new 2008 domestic version of this CD, from the limited edition Connoisseur Series, features three bonus tracks not contained on the original vinyl. They are Charlie Parker's "Au Privave," another Louis Smith composition "Bakin'" (aka "Tunesmith"), and a mono take of "There Will Be Another You." Also as the reviewer of Here Comes Louis Smith, I wanted to mention that even though this album doesn't have the starpower of a "Cannonball" Adderley, it is even better than Smith's Blue Note debut. Reason being, it simply sounds cleaner and crisper, as it was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in his famous Hackensack studio. Jazz devotees have been craving this reissue for years, don't miss your chance to visit "Smithville."

It's amazing to me how many people who dig jazz don't know who Louis Smith is, because in my opinion, he should be been headlining opposite of Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and Donald Byrd. He has such an amazing technique. "Smithville," which thanks to Blue Note, finally sees the light of day. Smith is joined by Charlie Rouse (tenor sax) Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Art Taylor (drums). This album swings so hard it'll make your head spin, but there are some nice ballads that slow things down too. Very enjoyable set. Highly recommended.

I can recommend to any jazz fan Mr. Smith's warm tone and elegant phrasing. And he smokes on the fast tunes, too.

Featuring Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers, Charlie Rouse and Art Taylor, this album has many bright spots. In terms of criticism, two of the three tunes of Mr. Smith's on this CD feature melodies a little too busy for my taste. Sonny Clark's playing on the title track also seems to step on Mr. Smith's first solo.

But this is really just nitpicking. If you haven't heard Louis Smith, you are missing out. Check it out now!

As admirer of some other Louis Smith recordings (Blue Lights with Kenny Burrell, Newport with Horace Silver and Here Comes Louis Smith) I was a bit disappointed by this Connoisseur cd series-production. The musicians seem to feel in a hurry, very tense, and -feeling that probably themselves- trying to make the best of it by playing louder and over-active, what makes the whole only worse.
Sonny Clark seems the only one to hold control over the music and himself. This is one of his better recordings, not unimportant because he is a rather unstable personality.
Art Taylor, often playing a bit stressy, looses himself now and then completely, with negative effect on the other musicians, etc.
A pity because of the very few recordings Louis Smith made in his best years (1957 and 1958).