TOMMY SMITH / BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Modern Jacobite
Spartacus STS022
Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Clark Rundell
Recorded 28th & 29th May, 2015
In a career that has spanned more than thirty years, saxophonist Tommy Smith has proved time and time again that he is at the top of his game. As a teenager he was playing at a level that many a seasoned pro would aspire to, and in his recordings for Blue Note, Linn Records and his own Spartacus imprint we have been able to follow his progress at close quarters. Small group recordings made with Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, John Scofield and more recently the trio with Arild Andersen are consistently excellent, and he has steered the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra into poll position as one of the world's finest jazz orchestras. As if this was not enough, Smith now presents his first symphonic work, Modern Jacobite.
This foray into the world of classical music should come as no surprise to followers of the saxophonist, as Smith has previously written for strings and saxophone in his piece 'Unirsi In Matrimonio' as far back as 1990, which was quickly followed by further compositions and extended periods of study. A collaboration with pianist Murray McLachlan led to touring as a duo as well as well received Gymnopédie album for Linn. With Modern Jacobite, Smith has once again shown a mastery of his chosen idiom in an album that must rate as one of his finest to date (in any genre), and presented us with a fully realised recording that communicates to the soul and the intellect.
Opening with a piece by Rachmaninoff from the composers famous 'Fourteen Songs', Smith and the orchestra's interpretation of 'Vocalese' is a beautiful and deeply lyrical way to begin any album, with the emotional range of the tenor saxophone bringing a depth to the piece that is compelling and affecting; and this sentiment also prevails in the closing sequence, a re-imaging of Chick Corea's 'Children's Songs'. Tommy has previously visited these enchanting pieces before in his duet with McLaughlin and in a longer 50 minute interpretation for saxophone and orchestra. Here, he chooses to intersperse Corea's pieces with improvisations and his own 'Bairn's Sang', and with Smith's 'Bairns' being a more unruly brood than Corea's playful melodies it makes for an intriguing playground.
In between these two works is the main event of the album, a thirty minute symphony, 'Jacobite' that depicts the dramatic and bloody uprisings in 1689, 1715 and the final uprising of 1745 that lead to the defeat at Culloden Moor on 16th April 1746. Smith's dramatic score runs the whole gamut of emotions from battle lust to despair, the ravages of war to mourning of the sons and fathers who died during the uprisings.
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra embrace this music wholeheartedly, getting swept along in the wake of Smith's orchestrations and bring to life the history of their homeland. Throughout Smith's presence is felt, whether as part of the ensemble or providing the narrative to the story through his saxophone. Occasionally the orchestra falls silent and Smith is left alone to solo, before bringing the orchestra back to the fore.
Smith's playing and writing is quite astonishing, his distinctive sound on the tenor is not forsaken to blend with the symphonic voices, but used to be an individual voice within the strings, woodwinds and brass; and in the process his jazz credentials are clearly heard in the breadth of invention, phrasing and shape of the saxophone lines.
This is without a doubt another major accomplishment in Smith's career, but more than that it is music to be savoured and enjoyed as more is discovered with each new hearing. Let us hope that the jazz fraternity will not be dismissive of a move away from their comfort zone, and that classical music lovers will not shun or shy away from a work composed by a jazz musician because a leap of faith and open ears will bring great rewards.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Spartacus STS022
Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Clark Rundell
Recorded 28th & 29th May, 2015
In a career that has spanned more than thirty years, saxophonist Tommy Smith has proved time and time again that he is at the top of his game. As a teenager he was playing at a level that many a seasoned pro would aspire to, and in his recordings for Blue Note, Linn Records and his own Spartacus imprint we have been able to follow his progress at close quarters. Small group recordings made with Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, John Scofield and more recently the trio with Arild Andersen are consistently excellent, and he has steered the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra into poll position as one of the world's finest jazz orchestras. As if this was not enough, Smith now presents his first symphonic work, Modern Jacobite.
This foray into the world of classical music should come as no surprise to followers of the saxophonist, as Smith has previously written for strings and saxophone in his piece 'Unirsi In Matrimonio' as far back as 1990, which was quickly followed by further compositions and extended periods of study. A collaboration with pianist Murray McLachlan led to touring as a duo as well as well received Gymnopédie album for Linn. With Modern Jacobite, Smith has once again shown a mastery of his chosen idiom in an album that must rate as one of his finest to date (in any genre), and presented us with a fully realised recording that communicates to the soul and the intellect.
Opening with a piece by Rachmaninoff from the composers famous 'Fourteen Songs', Smith and the orchestra's interpretation of 'Vocalese' is a beautiful and deeply lyrical way to begin any album, with the emotional range of the tenor saxophone bringing a depth to the piece that is compelling and affecting; and this sentiment also prevails in the closing sequence, a re-imaging of Chick Corea's 'Children's Songs'. Tommy has previously visited these enchanting pieces before in his duet with McLaughlin and in a longer 50 minute interpretation for saxophone and orchestra. Here, he chooses to intersperse Corea's pieces with improvisations and his own 'Bairn's Sang', and with Smith's 'Bairns' being a more unruly brood than Corea's playful melodies it makes for an intriguing playground.
In between these two works is the main event of the album, a thirty minute symphony, 'Jacobite' that depicts the dramatic and bloody uprisings in 1689, 1715 and the final uprising of 1745 that lead to the defeat at Culloden Moor on 16th April 1746. Smith's dramatic score runs the whole gamut of emotions from battle lust to despair, the ravages of war to mourning of the sons and fathers who died during the uprisings.
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra embrace this music wholeheartedly, getting swept along in the wake of Smith's orchestrations and bring to life the history of their homeland. Throughout Smith's presence is felt, whether as part of the ensemble or providing the narrative to the story through his saxophone. Occasionally the orchestra falls silent and Smith is left alone to solo, before bringing the orchestra back to the fore.
Smith's playing and writing is quite astonishing, his distinctive sound on the tenor is not forsaken to blend with the symphonic voices, but used to be an individual voice within the strings, woodwinds and brass; and in the process his jazz credentials are clearly heard in the breadth of invention, phrasing and shape of the saxophone lines.
This is without a doubt another major accomplishment in Smith's career, but more than that it is music to be savoured and enjoyed as more is discovered with each new hearing. Let us hope that the jazz fraternity will not be dismissive of a move away from their comfort zone, and that classical music lovers will not shun or shy away from a work composed by a jazz musician because a leap of faith and open ears will bring great rewards.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
