Search - Marvin Smith :: Road Less Traveled

A Slightly Different Bag.....

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 11/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This would be classified mostly as post bop and hard bop....but there are a few exceptions!



The first two selections, which are medium tempo with excellent harmonization of the horns, are a real treat. This is followed by a two part brooding ballad which has a beautiful exposition by tenor saxist Ralph Moore; the whole tune evocative as background music in a movie scene. The fifth cut is a great salsa original reminiscent of the style of Mongo Santamaria.



The sixth cut, Gothic 17, doesn't do anything for me! It apparently is an extension of a style of free funk avant garde originated by Ornette Coleman and taken further by altoist Steve Coleman. This style is known as M-base and numbers trombonist Robin Eubanks as well as Smith as practioners.



"Concerto In B.G.", dedicated to Benny Golson, utilizes his charateristic of bridging jazz and classical forms. This one spotlights Robin Eubanks on trombone, the piano of James Williams, and some drum breaks by Smith.



The title tune, the longest cut, has some intriguing time signatures. It starts out with some fine trio work for about five minutes, breaks into a repetitive theme which serves as a base for free style horn solos for approximately three minutes, and then reverts back to the trio to close out the remaining minute and a half.



All that said, the musicians are excellent, most of whom are recognizable to jazz fans (Robert Hurst, who played with Wynton Marsalis, James Williams on piano, trumpeter Wallace Roney, and the previously mentioned Ralph Moore, Steve Coleman and Robin Eubanks).



This cd will appeal to those familiar with the musicians, fans of small group hard bop or post bop, and most of all, those who want their jazz with a little more stretch or variation."

Allstar lineup that delivers

blam@dnvrlaw.com | Denver, CO | 12/01/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first two pieces on this cd deliver beautifully. The entire cd is a little challenging, as two songs in the middle have slightly more "edge," but the final two pieces are wonderful. Smitty sounds great and wrote all of the tunes except one (which was written by B. Brufford for all of you Yes fans). Mostly they are very melodic. You have to love the prescence of the trombone, two saxes, & Wallace Rooney(trumpt.) Great music to cook to!"