Tommy Smith-Evolution

[Green Dolphin]

Just got this today from the label,sounds promising after one spin.Heavyweight line-up of Lovano,Sco,John Taylor,Patitucci and Stewart aren't just there for the ride.The same sextet are touring the UK in November.

[Aggie87]

Is this the ScoLoToJoJo+Bill lineup?

[Green Dolphin]

As it Smith's gig I think it's ToLoScoJoJoRo.Stewart kindly offerred up his second christian name "Rod"(after the singer apparently!)in order to keep the thing going.

[A Lark Ascending]

The track I heard on the radio last week had a wonderful John Taylor piano solo at the start, then became more ordinary.

I've never found myself absorbed by Tommy Smith's playing. He's clearly a fantastic force for getting things done - all sorts of projects, unusual concepts etc. But whilst I'm often excited by the ideas when it comes down to listening to the end result I hear a tenor player not unlike a few score more.

I'll probably buy this to hear Taylor in a different context and hope to have my view on Smith (and Lovano come to that, another player who has rarely moved me) changed.

[Green Dolphin]

Some good points there Bev,Smith and Lovano don't move me much as players either but sometimes they hit their context and it's good(the early nineties quartet with Sco in the latter's case).And even when it isn't,then there's good stuff going on around them...like the Taylor solo.Check it out,it's a good but not great disc...so far

[JohnS]

I'm not attracted to Smith or Taylor but this one looked interesting. I've just given it a quick play but the only thing I rembere at the end was Sco's opening solo.