Tom Smith brings the Big Band heat for Ronnie’s album launch
Tom Spargo
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The rising saxophonist was joined by his 18-piece Big Band for the launch of his latest album, A Day in the Life
Alto saxophonist Tom Smith’s forthcoming album, A Year in the Life (set for release on 21 February on ECN Music), is a triumph of musical ambition and individual artistry. This live launch at Ronnie Scott’s featured the same 18-piece Big Band lineup as on the album, a musical – and no doubt logistical – feat that paid off with a bold, unified sound.
This band brings together some seriously impressive talent. The combination of two tenor powerhouses, Paul Booth and Alex Garnett, was particularly thrilling. Booth brought a modern, edgy intensity while Garnett’s fearless improvisations offered a sonically adventurous, searching dimension. Trombonist Olli Martin delivered a standout solo on the encore ‘The Light That Shines’, full of warmth and expression. Jamie McCreadie’s funk-inspired guitar riffs added grit and groove throughout, while pianist Will Barry wove fluid lines even through the densest arrangements.
Smith is a natural at balancing his roles as a charismatic soloist and commanding bandleader. His original compositions were stylistically varied and richly textured, and the setlist moved fluidly between the expansively cinematic and the intimately personal. The opening tune, ‘Speedboat in Trouble’, featured high-octane horn lines with a frenetic post-bop melody. This contrasted with tunes such as ‘Breathe’, which was guitar-led and more reflective. ‘Swansea Uproar’, originally popularized on YouTube as a remote lockdown project, gained new lease of life in this live setting, bursting with collective energy and vitality. Some new tunes which were composed after the album was recorded, including ‘Pliosaur’ and ‘Mass Wisteria’, were also showcased and gave exciting indications of the future plans that Smith has in store for the group.
Smith’s ability to highlight his bandmates while maintaining a clear sense of his own musical vision gave the evening a cohesive purpose. He was totally in control throughout – as a soloist, as a conductor and as bandleader.
