Circumstance
David Smith Quintet | Fresh Sound New Talent - Distr. IRD
Review by Maurizio Zerbo - translation by Maria Gravish
This is an excellent CD that well represents David Smith’s brilliant expression. David is an emerging Canadian jazz trumpet
player. His fragmented and irregular phrasing is at the service of a beautiful warm and round sound, with magnificently
balanced solos ranging between tradition and contemporary, swinging between the rough nervousness of the post-be bop
language and the frenetic rhythms of the US metropolis.
To all this, add non flat writing over conventional solutions, in search of free and open forms instead of, like a big thing today,
hiding comfortably in latin arrangements. An all-around trumpet player that resounds of the best Woody Shaw, here proposes
an agile and dynamic journey, winning rhythmically.
A pianoless formula formed by a wonderfully talented and compacted group focusing their attention on the great energetic
propulsive strength of the rhythm section and with the interesting cross exchanges between the guitar of Nate Radley and
the saxophone of the already well known Seamus Blake.
Then, there are some unexpected “solutions” on both melodic and rhythmic levels (“Soul Eyes”) proudly stated by the leader,
whose destiny is to become one of the best jazz trumpet players of this decade. Just listening to the one solo on the third
tune (“Tubicinate”) would be enough to fall in love with a trumpet having a very well defined personality, always able to
impose a determined jump (interval) to the sound.
The original Italian text is here
David Smith Quintet | Fresh Sound New Talent - Distr. IRD
Review by Maurizio Zerbo - translation by Maria Gravish
This is an excellent CD that well represents David Smith’s brilliant expression. David is an emerging Canadian jazz trumpet
player. His fragmented and irregular phrasing is at the service of a beautiful warm and round sound, with magnificently
balanced solos ranging between tradition and contemporary, swinging between the rough nervousness of the post-be bop
language and the frenetic rhythms of the US metropolis.
To all this, add non flat writing over conventional solutions, in search of free and open forms instead of, like a big thing today,
hiding comfortably in latin arrangements. An all-around trumpet player that resounds of the best Woody Shaw, here proposes
an agile and dynamic journey, winning rhythmically.
A pianoless formula formed by a wonderfully talented and compacted group focusing their attention on the great energetic
propulsive strength of the rhythm section and with the interesting cross exchanges between the guitar of Nate Radley and
the saxophone of the already well known Seamus Blake.
Then, there are some unexpected “solutions” on both melodic and rhythmic levels (“Soul Eyes”) proudly stated by the leader,
whose destiny is to become one of the best jazz trumpet players of this decade. Just listening to the one solo on the third
tune (“Tubicinate”) would be enough to fall in love with a trumpet having a very well defined personality, always able to
impose a determined jump (interval) to the sound.
The original Italian text is here
All About Jazz Italia, March 2007
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Do you know the young trumpet
player Dave Smith? Originally from
Toronto, Canada, he moved to
New York at the end of the 90’s.
Since then he has been active in
the “underground” scene. He is
constantly participating in
sessions, composing, and playing
in a range of groups from trios to
big bands. His harmonies are
sophisticated, his technique
precise permitting him to use
many intervals and a general
musical sense reminiscent of
Booker Little. His first album
featuring his own compositions,
“Circumstance”, has just been
released on the Fresh Sound New
Talent label, with Seamus Blake
(tenor), Nate Radley (guitar),
David Ephross (bass) and Mark
Ferber (drums).
player Dave Smith? Originally from
Toronto, Canada, he moved to
New York at the end of the 90’s.
Since then he has been active in
the “underground” scene. He is
constantly participating in
sessions, composing, and playing
in a range of groups from trios to
big bands. His harmonies are
sophisticated, his technique
precise permitting him to use
many intervals and a general
musical sense reminiscent of
Booker Little. His first album
featuring his own compositions,
“Circumstance”, has just been
released on the Fresh Sound New
Talent label, with Seamus Blake
(tenor), Nate Radley (guitar),
David Ephross (bass) and Mark
Ferber (drums).
Jazzman, March 2007
Jazzflits - March 11, 2007
Translation by Lindy
Smith
Smith
Translation by Arne Bock
The Modilization (an evolving worldwide
process with, economic, political and cultural
integration) of jazz music, consists of the fact
that countless of young musicians, for a short
or longer time, settle down in New York City.
They then often study with already settled
down musicians. Trumpet player David Smith
is a Canadian and lives since 2000 in New York.
There he studied for his Masters of Arts
Degree in Jazz Performance at the Aaron
Copeland School of Music. This CD
"Circumstance" is his debut CD. And watch,
Smith shows to have a talented technique and
tone, with which he tastefully opens/attacks
his bloody beautiful compositions. The rest of
the group supports the leader precisely. Tenor
saxophone player Seamus Blake is undisturbed
on his way to the top. Complex riddles, from
high to low, keeps the attention. Good
minded cooperation is also shown from guitar
player Nate Radley, bassist David Ephross and
the attentive drummer Mark Ferber. It is an
intriguing CD.
The Modilization (an evolving worldwide
process with, economic, political and cultural
integration) of jazz music, consists of the fact
that countless of young musicians, for a short
or longer time, settle down in New York City.
They then often study with already settled
down musicians. Trumpet player David Smith
is a Canadian and lives since 2000 in New York.
There he studied for his Masters of Arts
Degree in Jazz Performance at the Aaron
Copeland School of Music. This CD
"Circumstance" is his debut CD. And watch,
Smith shows to have a talented technique and
tone, with which he tastefully opens/attacks
his bloody beautiful compositions. The rest of
the group supports the leader precisely. Tenor
saxophone player Seamus Blake is undisturbed
on his way to the top. Complex riddles, from
high to low, keeps the attention. Good
minded cooperation is also shown from guitar
player Nate Radley, bassist David Ephross and
the attentive drummer Mark Ferber. It is an
intriguing CD.
Jazz Hot - June 2007
Translation by Lindy Smith
The enigmatic "Halloween
Song" opens this disc in an
original manner. It can be
said that finally, here is
someone who changes clearly
from obligatory tributes of
young trumpet players to the
electricity of Miles Davis or
the straight ahead Freddie
Hubbard.
The atmosphere with the
guitar evokes Billy Bauer,
with momnets a little soft but
at the same time, the
drumming ultra rich and the
lines of bass signal some more
contemporary moods, besides
Nate Radley himelf is more
like Abercrombie and
Metheny. In this case it’s
agreeable, Smith (who comes
from Canada but resides
today in New York) plays in a
style which is a cross
between Woody Shaw,
Booker Little, Kenny Dorham,
and certainly Dave Douglas.
His serious lyricism meets well
with Seamus Blake who is
equally an expressive
musician, but sooner of the
obscure side of jazz.
In this context, a little cold
but poetic is some bebop
(Tubicinate) and some very
beautiful flights of trumpet,
mastered and musical
(Circumstance) are found.
There are even some leanings
toward the waltz and
melancholy (Waiting). With
personality a little secretive,
in places sometimes
poignant, sometimes
mournful, constitutes a
beautiful affirmation, which
succeeds in being neither
pretentious nor subdued.
Jean Szalmowicz
The enigmatic "Halloween
Song" opens this disc in an
original manner. It can be
said that finally, here is
someone who changes clearly
from obligatory tributes of
young trumpet players to the
electricity of Miles Davis or
the straight ahead Freddie
Hubbard.
The atmosphere with the
guitar evokes Billy Bauer,
with momnets a little soft but
at the same time, the
drumming ultra rich and the
lines of bass signal some more
contemporary moods, besides
Nate Radley himelf is more
like Abercrombie and
Metheny. In this case it’s
agreeable, Smith (who comes
from Canada but resides
today in New York) plays in a
style which is a cross
between Woody Shaw,
Booker Little, Kenny Dorham,
and certainly Dave Douglas.
His serious lyricism meets well
with Seamus Blake who is
equally an expressive
musician, but sooner of the
obscure side of jazz.
In this context, a little cold
but poetic is some bebop
(Tubicinate) and some very
beautiful flights of trumpet,
mastered and musical
(Circumstance) are found.
There are even some leanings
toward the waltz and
melancholy (Waiting). With
personality a little secretive,
in places sometimes
poignant, sometimes
mournful, constitutes a
beautiful affirmation, which
succeeds in being neither
pretentious nor subdued.
Jean Szalmowicz