The Spanish label Fresh Sound Records is a label eager to release music by new talents but somehow they may lack a few things in the promotion department. Maybe that’s why Walter Smith III contacted me himself to tell me about his debut album. And I’m glad he did.
Hailing from Houston, Texas/USA, Walter began playing the saxophone at the age of seven. In 2002 Walter graduated from the renowned Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Education. In 2003 he began stuying at the Manhattan School of Music to receive a master’s in jazz performance. In between and since then he has performed with what looks like a who’s who of jazz artists (Roy Hargrove, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Mulgrew Miller or Terence Blanchard to name a few) and even soul/R&B musicians like Bilal, Lauryn Hill or Destiny’s Child. Not being content to play other people’s music Walter took the next step and wrote songs for his debut album and recorded five original compositions with four cover versions for his Casually Introducing album. He’s supported by Reuben Rogers (bass), Aaron Parks (piano, fender rhodes) and Eric Harland (drums) with additional musicians like Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet) or Lionel Loueke (guitar).
The album starts with the energy-laden hard bop of Sam River’s Cyclic Episode. By the way the CD cover is a remake of Sam Rivers Fuchsia Swing Song album which also used a fish-eye photograph on a red (fuchsia) background.
Walter’s original composition Kate Song with its beautiful melody adds some soul into the mix with Robert Glasper on fender rhodes and Linoel Loueke and Gretchen Parlato on vocals (actually it’s more humming than singing). If you liked the Marcus Strickland album Brotherhood than that’s the song to start with to discover Walter Smith III.
Tail Of Benin, another original, is an interesting song starting with a solo by Walter which then is modified into some futuristic effects. Benny’s, a song by Lionel Loueke starts as a relaxed slow groove with some fine guitar playing by Lionel himself until the band raises the pace after five minutes and a more ad-lib horn solo gives way for Aaron parks on piano. Great tune.
My personal highlight is Walter’s reading of the Mingus’s composition Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love. On this ballad Walter delivers a moving and soulful solo. If this is the sound of love I really want to be in love so badly.
Walter’s own Wooden Box (Spatula In Three) continues with the calm mood set by Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love while Ornette Coleman’s Peace offers a delightful uplifting vibe. P.O.S. is another fine mellow slow groove. The album’s closer, Blues, is actually a furious hard hitting song representing the wild and angry side of the blues.
The design of the CD with the reference to the Fuchsia Swing Song album and the typographical design of the back are certainly subtle hints that Walter likes to see his music in the tradition of Blue Notes’s halcyon days and judging the quality of songs and playing on Casually Introducing I can only say mission accomplished. A highly recommendable pure jazz album from a young and independent artist.

Tracklisting of Casually Introducing Walter Smith III: 1. Cyclic Episode/ 2. Kate Song/ 3. Tail of Benin/ 4. Benny’s/ 5. Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love/ 6. Wooden Box (Spatula in Three)/ 7. Peace/ 8. P.O.S./ 9. Blues | released 2006 by Fresh Sound Records

For more infos visit waltersmith3.com, freshsoundrecords.com and cdbaby.com.

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