The passing of time continually reshapes what we call 'classic jazz.' In the 1940s, bebop was the cutting edge; by the 1970s, it had become classic itself, overtaken by free improvisation, jazz-rock fusion, and global influences. Today, in a 21st-century music world of abundant choices, all styles coexist without mockery.
Walter Smith III: A Modern Classicist
Walter Smith III, the formidably resourceful 45-year-old saxophonist from Houston, exemplifies jazz tradition's enduring contemporaneity. His album Twio Vol 2 (Blue Note) follows its 2018 predecessor, exploring standard song shapes with only bass and drums. His sound and incisively rugged phrasing evoke Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, and Warne Marsh, yet his storytelling focus makes the music feel fresh.
Track Highlights
- On My Ideal: Smith's tenor builds laconic Rollins-like phrasing into double-time swirls and dives.
- Light Blue (Thelonious Monk): Unfolds like a private meditation.
- Casual-Lee: A delightfully acrobatic duet with guest Branford Marsalis, dedicated to Konitz.
- I Should Care and Isfahan (Billy Strayhorn): Feature bassist Ron Carter at his sublimely creative best.
This set seamlessly fuses classic and contemporary jazz creativity, representing both traditions at their finest.
Also Out This Month
Bill Frisell: In My Dreams
Bill Frisell reconvenes his idiosyncratic lineup for In My Dreams (Blue Note), with Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Hank Roberts (cello), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums). From the lilting title track to a chiming Home on the Range, it's a heartfelt celebration for Frisell's 75th year.
Joachim Kühn: Joachim Kühn & Young Lions
German jazz pianist Joachim Kühn wrote Joachim Kühn & Young Lions (ACT) in his 80th year for young musicians he had never played with. Tight funk, late-Miles trumpet edginess (from 23-year-old Jakob Bänsch), lyrical warmth, and free-collective ensemble fluency make Kühn sound exhilarated.
Caroline Davis: Fallows
US saxophonist/composer Caroline Davis mixes lyrical to free-atonal sax sounds, painterly synth collages, field recordings, and tributes to Steve Lacy and Geri Allen on the imaginative Fallows (Ropeadope).
