Walter Smith III reunited with old Angeleno friends with a set at the Blue Whale that was impressive in that it reflected his growth not only as a composer, but as also a tenor sax player, as his sound and deliver, reflected in his recent releases, has gone an impressive growth spurt of warm and lyricism.
And he knows how to choose friends wisely, bringing together all stars like Josh Nelson/p, Anthony Wilson/g, Christian Euman/dr and Anna Butterss/b for an 80 minute collection of sophisticated yet accessible improvisation.
Nelson started things off with a rich and rippling solo intro to “Something, Sometime” as Smith III entered the Kurt Rosenwinkel composition with a breathy breeze supported by the nimble pulse by Euman and Butterss ebbing and flowing before Anthony Wilson’s tensile guitar solo kicked up the Butanes a few notches. Wilson’s own “Patrimonio” featured the composer’s fluid strings blending in with Nelson’s ivories as Smith III floated over them like a Corsican fog hovering over grape vines with Butterss skating the direction forward.
Smith III introduced the packed house to a handful of newly penned pieces, with “In Common #4” featuring Euman’s cymbals coaxing forward Nelson’s classy and pastoral piano as Smith III’s subliminal melody created a pastel background. The slightly “In Common #2” was a kinetic joy, having tenor sax and guitar slither around like a Moroccan viper.
A melancholy “Ace” from Smith III’s latest album was a gorgeous aria with the leader richly brooding alongside Nelson’s gentle musings, but nothing prepared the audience for the glorious duet between the two on “Forward” that was a telepathic confluence of mists that were ever so gently drifting back and forth before Butterss quietly tip-toed in with a jogger’s pulse of a beat, leading to Wilson and Euman bringing the finishing touches to the autumnal sunset just before Smith III closed things off with a rich subtone of an ebbing tide.
The team skipped along to a closing “Barren” that featured swinging solos for all involved, showing that modern and intelligent music is still able to appeal to the head, heart and feet. Smith III has gone forward in style by looking backward to an attitude where one can say more by saying less, and still saying passionately but a bit more quietly.
Upcoming shows at the Blue Whale include Larry Goldings 12/28, Bennie Maupin 12/39 and Jonah Levine 12/30