Time Flies
Wounded Bird, 2023
8/10
The drummer Steve Smith has been at it for a long time, and this 40th anniversary release with Manuel Valera (keyboards) and Janek Gwizdale (bass), plus others, unfolds across 2 discs of exciting and timeless jazz sounds.
“Emergence” gets the listen off to an energetic start, where Smith’s fluid drumming and Valera’s swift keys are quite animated, and “Time Flies” arrives soon after with George Garzone’s soulful tenor sax helping make for a groove filled climate.
Deeper into disc 1, the frisky “No Qualm” showcases Mike Mainieri’s dreamy vibes for the warm, melodic delivery, and “Erdnase” exits with calm textures that benefit from Gwizdala’s reflective bass.
Disc 2 opens with John Coltrane’s “One Down, One Up”, where Garzone’s furious sax is complemented by Valera’s firm keys, and, of course, Smith’s drumming acrobatics, while “A Prayer For The Generations” finishes the listen with 8 chapters of dynamic and collaborative jazz ideas that allows all the player’s individual strengths to shine amid the rich improvisation that takes on mid-tempo grooves, blues nods and balladry.
Smith might best be known as the former drummer for the rock legends Journey, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He brings much experience and talent to this body of work that’s diverse, meticulous and full of jazz, rock and blues influences that you can’t not admire.
Travels well with: Peter Erskine- Live In Italy; Steve Gadd Band- At Blue Note Tokyo