Melvin Smith’s jazz is steeped in many different influences. The tenor saxophonist is well accompanied by trumpeter/flugelhornist Reggie Pittman, and a pair of pianists (either Stephen Lee or Gregory Royals), along with two different drummers (Sam Knight or Ezra Henry). Smith draws from his church background, offering an upbeat calypso arrangement of “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” and a burning medley of the spirituals “Go Down Moses” and “Wade in the Water.” Smith’s lyrical setting of Donny Hathaway’s R&B ballad “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and a thoughtful, spacious extended treatment of Billie Holiday’s signature song “God Bless the Child” (with a reverent introduction by Royals) work very well. He switches to soprano sax for his piece “Manasseh,” which features soulful interplay with Pittman. Finally, he transforms “We Shall Overcome” into a soft, yet strutting vehicle that retains its spiritual overtones. – Ken Dryden
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