Tommy Smith - Peeping Tom (1990)

In the early '90s tenor saxophonist Tommy Smith based his style on John Coltrane (circa 1964-65) but he placed his solos in more contemporary settings and his own individuality was gradually emerging. Certainly Smith's introduction to "The New Road," played on the WX7, sounds unlike anyone else. He cooks on "Slip of the Tongue," does well on the introspective ballad "Follow Your Heart" and thinks fast on his feet during the titel cut. Some of the original music on this CD is a bit dry and guitarist Paul Stacey (who is quite intense on "The New Road") should have had more opportunities to stretch out. But plenty of chances are taken overall and this early effort by Tommy Smith (with a quintet also including pianist Jason Rebello) is generally memorable.