Scotland has long been a fertile embryo for young jazz musicians and that tradition is maintained in the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra. Smith, himself a former young wunderkind, has honed his troops into an organisation that can hold its own at any level as this disc proves.
There is a nice mix of traditional big band swing in the form of Ellington's In a Mellow Tone, Take The A Train and Mood Indigo; Sammy Nestico's Hayburner and Moten Swing; Bob Mintzer's arrangement of Mile's Joshua and Pino Lodice's take on The Flintstones.
Steely Dan's Black Friday, Astor Piazzolla' new style tango Michel Angelo and of course an original by the leader, Numbers, move into slightly more contemporary areas. The latter number features Joe Wright on tenor and it says much for his playing that I had to check the album to ascertain that it wasn't the leader taking the solo!
However, it's unfair to single out soloists - they all perform with distinction - but what is worthy of special mention is the beautiful blend the saxes get in the ensemble passages; precise yet without loss of warmth - this is what I call a sax section.
Release date is Feb. 6. More details from www.spartacusrecords.com or www.tsyjo.com.
Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra - Emergence. Sparticus STS016.
Lance.
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