Call it a successful back-to-the-future gambit: Marquis Hill, the gifted Chicago trumpeter and composer whose career has played out at an accelerando since he won … Read More “Marquis Hill: New Gospel Revisited (Edition)”
It’s become a treat to discover what new three-piece rhythm section guitarist Matt Stevens and saxophonist Walter Smith III have assembled for their latest quintet … Read More “In Common: In Common III (Whirlwind)”
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and sax man Walter Smith III wander in and out of this set, anchored by the leader’s piano and Rhodes, Ivan Taylor’s … Read More “Connie Han: Iron Starlet (Mack Avenue)”
The cover of tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens’ second co-led album is hilarious: It’s literally the same as the first In Common, … Read More “Walter Smith III & Matthew Stevens: In Common 2 (Whirlwind)”
If you keep up with current developments in jazz, you’ve heard the five players in this collective ensemble in their roles as sidemen in cutting-edge … Read More “Walter Smith III/Matthew Stevens/Joel Ross/Harish Raghavan/Marcus Gilmore: In Common (Whirlwind)”
For his 11th release, drummer/composer Bill Stewart joins tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Larry Grenadier on the ironically titled Band Menu. The literal … Read More “Bill Stewart: Band Menu (self-released)”
Tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III assembles a stellar cast of collaborators here, all of whom he has played with in various constellations: Taylor Eigsti (piano), … Read More “Walter Smith III: Still Casual”
