Giacomo Smith, Snorre Kirk, Joe Webb, Anders Fjeldsted - Artfullee (2026) [Hi-Res]

Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Giacomo Smith recorded “Artfullee” for the Danish label Stunt — a focused, cohesive album in a quartet format where he remains the only horn player. The programme consists of six of his own compositions and one piece by Duke Ellington. The music moves between pronounced lyricism and open improvisation: the title theme “Artfullee” and other principal melodies serve as anchor points from which the ensemble structures grow organically.

The sonic palette is built on Smith’s four instruments: soprano and alto saxophones, clarinet, and bass clarinet, each colouring a piece differently depending on its mood. His quartet partners — pianist Joe Webb, bassist Anders Fjeldsted, and drummer Snorre Kirk — work as a finely balanced collective in which listening and responding are paramount. The material relied hardly at all on written charts: Smith conveyed the basic structures by ear, which gives the recordings a lively, immediate quality.

The production emphasises atmosphere and melodic simplicity over displays of virtuosity. Frequent minor keys and subtle rhythmic shifts create a nocturnal, reflective mood. The result is a carefully shaped, mature album that brings the chamber-like side of contemporary jazz to the forefront.

Tracklist:
1. Giacomo Smith - Artfullee
2. Giacomo Smith - Minnow Games
3. Giacomo Smith - Largo Montebello
4. Giacomo Smith - Take Off Make Off
5. Giacomo Smith - Reflections in D
6. Giacomo Smith - The Round Tower
7. Giacomo Smith - Two Four No More