Search - Paul Smith :: Fine, Sweet and Tasty

Whitebird

John Lester | Vila Velha, Espírito Santo Brazil | 09/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The black critic LeRoi Jones said in his book "Black Music: Jazz & Rythm'n Blues" that "the black music is essentially the expression of an attitude, or the accumulation of attitudes concerning the world, and only secondarily an attitude concerning the way as the music is produced ". And ends: "The white musician of jazz came to understand that attitude as a form of doing music, and the intensity of your understanding produced the big wave of white musicians of jazz". And it isn't other the white pianist's Paul Smith case.
Endowed with classic formation and excellent technique, Paul lets to reveal clearly in this cd the search of that attitude one that refers LeRoi. Therefore it won't be surprised if the listener identifies much more in the pianist's sound an Oscar Peterson's "white" technical competence than the Dave Brubeck's "black" attitude.
Actually it falls to guitarist Tony Rizzi to assume the black sense of the recording, in the line of a Charlie Christian. His touch full of swing dominates discreetly the cool climate of those recordings accomplished in 1953. Discreet are also Sam Cheifetz's bass and Irv Cottler's drum presences. The cd brings 12 small strips (total time of 38min and 03s), being 4 of them alternate takes, with prominence for the track title (of Nat King Cole), Crazy Rhythm and All For You. As a whole the cd pleases, especially to the lovers of the cool and softly bop. I recommend."