Tommy Smith - Gymnopedie - The List

Saxophonist Tommy Smith draws on his well-established duo with pianist Murray McLachlan in his first classical disc. As well as the title piece and three other imaginative reconstructions of music by Satie, the disc features minatures by Bartok, Chick Corea and Grieg as an extended prelude to Smith's own pair of meatier sonatas, a structure which replicates the form favoured in their concerts. The progression from Hall of Mirrors - Sonata No.1 to Dreaming With Open Eyes - Sonata No.2 reveals a marked advance in the saxophonist's formal compositional technique, but both are impressive and exciting pieces, and are Saxophonist Tommy Smith draws on his well-established duo with pianist Murray McLachlan in his first classical disc. As well as the title piece and three other imaginative reconstructions of music by Satie, the disc features minatures by Bartok, Chick Corea and Grieg as an extended prelude to Smith's own pair of meatier sonatas, a structure which replicates the form favoured in their concerts. The progression from Hall of Mirrors - Sonata No.1 to Dreaming With Open Eyes - Sonata No.2 reveals a marked advance in the saxophonist's formal compositional technique, but both are impressive and exciting pieces, and are superbly played and vividly recorded.