Johnny Smith Trio - Designed For You (1959) [2017 SHM-CD Jazz Masters Collection 1200]

Reissue with SHM-CD format and new 24bit remastering. Johnny Smith really helped bring the sound of jazz guitar to a huge audience in the 50s – and an album like this is a perfect demonstration of his subtle genius on the instrument! At a time when so many others were working the guitar with a hard-edged sound, Smith moves into territory that's even more careful and precise – really making the most of the amplification on the strings, so that his touch can be gentle, but very pointed – allowing for lots of space between the notes, in a way that makes each of them mean even more than they might if strung together in a flurry. The group's a trio – with the bass and drums really giving Johnny a lot of room.

Tracks:

01 - Fools Rush In
02 - I'll Remember Clifford
03 - The Lady Is A Tramp
04 - There Will Never Be Another You
05 - Autumn Leaves
06 - Mood Indigo
07 - Sentimental Journey
08 - Three Little Words
09 - My Romance
10 - Sometimes I'm Happy
11 - I'll Take Romance

Personnel:

Johnny Smith - guitar
George Roumanis - bass
Mousey Alexander - drums