Drummer Hal Smith has been one of the most valuable players in a countless number of settings through the years, from 1920s music and New Orleans jazz to San Francisco revival groups and swing. An unselfish accompanist who adds subtle colors to the ensembles, he is the perfect 1936 drummer, inspired by George Wettling and Dave Tough among others of the era.

Hal Smith’s latest group, Swing Central, is a quintet comprised of clarinetist Jonathan Doyle, guitarist Jamey Cummins, pianist Dan Walton and bassist Steve Pikal. Doyle, who sometimes sounds like Pee Wee Russell (particularly on the opening “The Lady’s In Love With You”), also in various spots hints at Jimmie Noone and Joe Marsala.

He contributed six originals (most of which are based on common chord changes such as “Bats On A Bridge” which is essentially “I’ve Found A New Baby”), Cummins brought in one song, and the group also plays some standards and a few obscurities (including Bix and Tram’s “For No Reason At All In ‘C’”). Cummins is an excellent swing guitarist, Walton contributes some concise solos, and Pikal joins Smith in unselfishly keeping the momentum flowing in the ensembles and behind the lead voices.

This is a fun swing session that is the latest in a long string of winning releases from Hal Smith.

Windy City Swing (Tuxedo Cat 1401, 17 selections, TT = 62:54) www.halsmithmusic.com

Hal Smith’s Swing Central: Windy City Swing

Scott Yanow
September 1, 2017
Album Reviews

Scott Yanow

Since 1975 Scott Yanow has been a regular reviewer of albums in many jazz styles. He has written for many jazz and arts magazines, including JazzTimes, Jazziz, Down Beat, Cadence, CODA, and the Los Angeles Jazz Scene, and was the jazz editor for Record Review. He has written an in-depth biography on Dizzy Gillespie for AllMusic.com. He has authored 11 books on jazz, over 900 liner notes for CDs and over 20,000 reviews of jazz recordings.

Yanow was a contributor to and co-editor of the third edition of the All Music Guide to Jazz. He continues to write for Downbeat, Jazziz, the Los Angeles Jazz Scene, the Jazz Rag, the New York City Jazz Record and other publications.