Search - Wadada Leo Smith :: Red Sulphur

WADADA LEO SMITH-RED SULPHUR SKY

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 01/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One disc 52 minutes approximately. The sound is clean and the trumpet tone is pure in it's sound. For those jazz listeners who like solo recordings played by masters of their instruments,this is one that should not pass by your listening shelf. Smith has been recording since the early seventies-some solo some with various other players. This session was recorded in 2001 and stands as one of his finest pieces of work. On these tracks the listener will hear anything and everything in both jazz and music in general. This is music that requires patience and the will to listen very deeply to what Smith is saying. Once started on this aural journey,it should be listened to in it's entirety. The tones from either his trumpet or flugel horn are well thought out and played with a great deal of intelligence and feeling. There is a delicacy in Smith's tone which gives his music a very personal feel. In listening to this music,one feels like he is eaves dropping on someone's innermost thoughts. At times I'm reminded of Anthony Braxton's solo work from times past. Most of Smith's work is with other players,rarely is his solo work recorded for us to revel in. This is contemplative music that seemingly goes everywhere through the course of his playing. It is indeed a beautiful journey-one that can(and should) be taken over and over again many times. I only hope that Smith decides to take another solo journey in the future,and will release it so the rest of us can go along too."