''A Tribute to Stuff Smith'' is an album by the American jazz violinist
Billy Bang
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
recorded in 1992. The album was released on the Italian
Soul Note
Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.
History
Black S ...
label and features songs written by or associated with violinist
Stuff Smith (1909-1967). Bang is supported by pianist and former Smith collaborator
Sun Ra (in a rare sideman appearance), bassist
John Ore and drummer
Andrew Cyrille.
[Soul Note discography](_blank)
accessed July 12, 2011
Reception
The editors of
AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars, and reviewer
Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow (born October 4, 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author.Allmusic Biography/ref>
Biography
Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles.
Since 1974, he was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles an ...
wrote: "Ra was a bit hemmed in by the concept, and his conception of time was different than Bang's, so there is a certain amount of tension in the music. Also, Billy Bang has a much rougher sound and a freer style than Stuff Smith, but the end results are well worth hearing".
[Yanow, S]
AllMusic Review
accessed July 12, 2011
The authors of ''
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' praised Cyrille's contribution, stating that he is "the key element, constantly suggesting new routes, changing the pace, lying back almost out of the picture, and then erupting in with another flurry of ideas."
Critic
Tom Hull assigned the album a rating of "A–", commenting: "Not breathtaking, but certainly a delight."
Robert Spencer of ''
All About Jazz'' remarked: "Although the choice of material here is made up entirely of tunes Stuff Smith played... Bang and Sun Ra... make them new in the best tradition of jazz."
Track listing
# "Only Time Will Tell" (
Stuff Smith) - 5:33
# "
Satin Doll
"Satin Doll" is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 101 Strings, Terry Callier, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progression is ...
" (
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
,
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...
,
Billy Strayhorn
William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take ...
) - 8:01
# "
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...
" (
Peter DeRose,
Mitchell Parish) - 6:24
# "Bugle Blues" (Smith) - 2:52
# "
A Foggy Day" (
George Gershwin,
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...
) - 3:58
# "
April in Paris" (
Vernon Duke,
E. Y. Harburg
Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg; April 8, 1896 – March 5, 1981) was an American popular song lyricist and librettist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" ( ...
) - 5:18
# "
Lover Man
"Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" (often called simply "Lover Man") is a 1941 popular song written by Jimmy Davis, Roger ("Ram") Ramirez, and James Sherman. It is particularly associated with Billie Holiday, for whom it was written, and her ...
" (Jimmy Davis,
Ram Ramirez
Roger "Ram" Ramirez (September 15, 1913 – 11 January 1994) was a Puerto Rican jazz pianist and composer. He was a co-composer of the song "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"
Early life
Ramirez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 15, 1 ...
, James Sherman) - 6:27
# "
Yesterdays" (
Otto Harbach,
Jerome Kern) - 4:12
**Recorded at Sear Sound in New York City on September 20, 21 & 22, 1992
Personnel
*
Billy Bang
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
-
violin
*
Sun Ra -
piano
*
John Ore –
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
*
Andrew Cyrille –
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tribute to Stuff Smith, A
Black Saint/Soul Note albums
Billy Bang albums
1992 albums