The joyful freedom of Ferde Grofé's 'On the Trail' captures precisely the intended spirit of Walter Smith III's album 'Twio', which see him collaborate closely with established colleagues in double bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Eric Harland.
The Texas-native, California-based tenor saxophonist and composer presents his own illuminating vision of the saxophone trio while also inviting, along the way, guest appearances by Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone) and Christian McBride (double bass).
Working and touring for the last fifteen years, playing multi-layered compositions in different configurations with artists such as Terence Blanchard, Roy Haynes, Sean Jones, Ambrose Akinmusire and with his own bands, Smith also began to revisit classic jazz songs. He elaborates: "I would try and alter tunes quite radically by rearranging, reharmonizing and altering meters to a point where I was barely playing the original song; but realized that I was confusing the point of playing the songs, so I began to interpret them more directly, as they were first meant to be played. For this album, out of around twenty recorded songs, I chose nine pieces that I have a particular relationship with and have always loved playing, including some which are maybe less frequently heard".
While that concept appears straightforward, this recording (the saxophonist's fifth as leader) reveals much about the ultra-confidence and musicality which these established players bring to the table, entering the studio to intuitively share ideas and discover uncharted paths.
Personnel: Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), Harish Raghaven (bass - 1, 2, 6 & 7), Eric Harland (drums), Special guests: Christian McBride (bass - 3, 5, 8 & 9), Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone - 3 & 9) Press: "Twio presents terrific tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III in a tight, tight, tight trio setting." - DownBeat Magazine (Editor's Pick) "A fine session." - Jazzwise Magazine "Twio achieves a near perfect balance between accessibility and musical excellence." - All About Jazz "TWIO deconstructs the jazz repertory's hidden gems with knowing references, closely articulated finesse and immaculate bass and drum support." - Financial Times "Straight-swinging, but bending the familiar with flawless musicianship." - The Guardian "Fresh sounding and deeply satisfying." - Jazz Views "The clarity, economy and fluency of Smith's ideas and the interplay in the band is compelling." - London Jazz News "Intricate soloing over clever grooves...Impressive impressions." - Jazz Weekly
