Walter Smith III: Twio Vol 2 Review – Classic Jazz Vividly Alive
The contemporary music world keeps redefining the meaning of 'classic jazz' as time progresses. In the 1940s, bebop was the cutting edge, while early 20th-century roots in street music and plantations became trad forms. Thirty years later, bebop itself became classic, overtaken by free jazz, fusion, and global influences. Today, jazz musicians like Walter Smith III embrace tradition with fresh vitality.
The 45-year-old Houston-born saxophonist, described as 'formidably resourceful,' releases Twio Vol 2 on Blue Note, following his 2018 predecessor. Accompanied only by bass and drums, Smith explores standard song-shapes with incisive, rugged phrasing. His sound evokes icons like Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, and Warne Marsh, yet his storytelling focus makes the music entirely new.
On My Ideal, made famous by Chet Baker, Smith builds laconic Rollins-like phrasing into double-time swirls. Thelonious Monk's Light Blue unfolds as a private meditation. A duet with guest Branford Marsalis, Casual-Lee (dedicated to Konitz), is a delightfully acrobatic highlight. The poignant I Should Care and Billy Strayhorn's Isfahan feature bassist Ron Carter at his creative best. This set seamlessly fuses classic and contemporary jazz creativity.
Also Out This Month
Bill Frisell reconvenes a graceful lineup for In My Dreams (Blue Note), with violin, viola, cello, bass, and drums. From the lilting title track to a chiming Home on the Range, it's a heartfelt celebration for his 75th year. German pianist Joachim Kühn wrote Joachim Kühn & Young Lions (ACT) for young musicians he had never played with, blending tight funk, late-Miles trumpet edginess, and lyrical warmth. US saxophonist Caroline Davis mixes lyrical to free-atonal sounds, synth collages, and field recordings on Fallows (Ropeadope), paying tribute to Steve Lacy and Geri Allen.
