In the photo I tried to capture one of those contempative, meditative Zen moments, with Tommy Smith crouching hidden next to the piano, musing as the band played on. I smiled as the thought came to me that perhaps he’s been overcome by thoughts of his own Karma. Looking around at the audience, that mood had communicated […]
Tommy Smith, Karma ***** (5-star)
Tommy Smith has explored many directions over the years, and Karma adds another to that list with a shift into a more groove- and rock-based idiom. The band made their debut in a superb concert at last year’s Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and this disc, recorded the following day, bears out the powerful impression the music […]
KARMA
Hailed on arrival by critics as the toughest and most creative group of his career, Tommy Smith’s KARMA sees the brilliant Scottish saxophonist lead a band of virtuosic musicians on a deeply grooving acid jazz adventure that draws on influences from around the world.
Kurt Elling with the SNJO
Kurt Elling with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh WHATEVER John Coltrane imagined his A Love Supreme suite inspiring – world peace would have been reasonable reward – he surely can’t have considered someone arriving who could turn the melody and saxophone solo from that masterpiece’s Resolution into a work of blistering vocal […]
Peeping Tom
featuring Tommy Smith (tenor sax, WX7 solo on 1), Jason Rebello (piano), Paul Stacey (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Terje Gewelt (bass), Ian Froman (drums, cymbals) The New Road Follow Your Heart Merry Go Round Slip Of The Tongue Interval Time Simple Pleasures Peeping Tom Quiet Picnic Affairs, Please Harlequin Boats And Boxes Biting At The […]
Paris
featuring Tommy Smith (tenor sax), Julian Argüelles (alto & soprano sax), Guy Barker (trumpet, monette), Mick Hutton (bass), Jason Rebello (piano), Jeremy Stacey (drums) Dischord True Sobriety Reflections Day Light Ping Pong Children Play Phraselogy Tear Birth Lost Fragments Occidentalism
Standards
featuring Tommy Smith (tenor sax), Niels Lan Doky (piano), Mick Hutton (bass), Ian Froman (drums, cymbals) Star Eyes Speak Low Sky Lark September Song Blacken Blue Mil Dew You’ve Changed My Secret Love Night And Day My Old Flame Julia Lover Dream Scapes Silent But Deadly
Reminiscence
feturing Tommy Smith (saxophone), Terje Gewelt (bass), Ian Froma Hope Memoir On The Ocean Floor Old Times Folk Song Emancipation Of Dissonance Day Dreams Ally Is Really This It Reminiscence Reviews Gramophone — If there is a jazz dialect appropriate to Northern lands… then this sounds like it.
Misty Morning And No Time
featuring Tommy Smith (soprano & tenor saxophones), Guy Barker (trumpet & monette), Julian Arguelles (soprano & alto saxophones), Steve Hamilton (piano), Terje Gewelt (bass), Ian Froman (drums) Intrusion Estuary Incident Memorial The Root Of It You Went Away Dipper Rag & Bone Sounds Of The Day Country Dance Misty Morning & No Time Day Break […]
Azure
featuring Tommy Smith (Saxophones), Kenny Wheeler (Trumpet & Flugel Horn), Lars Danielsson (Bass), Jon Christensen (Drums) Gold Of The Azure Escape Ladder Siesta Smile Of Flamboyant Wings Vowel Song Constellation The Morning Star Calculation Dancer Dialogue Of The Insects Blue (parts 1-3)