Johnny Smith

Johnny Smith and His New Quartet

Fresh Sound Records

Personnel:
Johnny Smith (g), Johnny Rae (vib), George Roumanis (b), Johnny Lee (d)

Reference: FSRCD 080

Tracklist

01. It Never Entered My Mind (Hart-Rodgers) 2:31
02. Samba (Johnny Smith) 2:49
03. Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (Traditional, adapt. John Jacob Niles) 1:50
04. Pawn Ticket (Ray Bryant) 7:07
05. 'S Wonderful (Gershwin/Gershwin) 5:00
06. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Cole Porter) 2:08
07. Blues Lights (Gigi Gryce) 4:11
08. Montage (Johnny Smith) 4:55
09. Bags' Groove (Milt Jackson) 3:30
10. 'Round Midnight (Hanighen-Monk-Williams) 3:42

Album details

Originally issued on Roost Records as LP #2216

Personnel:
Johnny Smith (g), Johnny Rae (vib), George Roumanis (b), Johnny Lee (d).
Recorded in New York City, September 29, 1956

Cover photo: Chuck Stewart

This reissue produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.

Press reviews

"Before he threw in the towel and willingly walked away from the clutches of the recording industry in 1960, Johnny Smith recorded an impressive roster of albums for Teddy Reig's Roost label. One of these, The New Johnny Smith Quartet, recorded in 1956, was billed as maiden set for Smith's new, small group. That was almost correct. This was the first time around for vibes player Johnny Rae and drummer John Lee. But bass player George Roumanis had already recorded with Smith. Prior to his Smith tenure, Rae was instrumental in shaping the distinctive George Shearing Quintet sound. This bandleader was especially well known for tasteful playing, the clean quality of his sound, and his skillful voicing of melody with chords. And this album does nothing to detract from that reputation. Even on the up-tempo pieces like "Pawn Ticket" and "'S Wonderful" Smith's technique remains clean without slurring. His playing also can take on classical overtones, like on "Montage" and "It Never Entered My Mind." Smith was not a stranger to the classical genre. His last minute abduction by conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos to play solo guitar on Arnold Schoenberg's "Serenade" is one of music's legends. On the slower numbers this quartet resembles the stentorian sounds of the Modern Jazz Quartet at times. Johnny Smith left behind about 25 LPs with the Roost label. A great project for Mosaic Records would be to get a license for these albums for one of their excellent compilations, this time featuring the fine guitar of Johnny Smith."

Dave Nathan -All Music Guide

Price:

12,95 €  (tax incl.)

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