Walter Smith III – Three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not

Blue Note – Available
Jazz
Walter Smith III - three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not

One could say that currently, Walter Smith III and I are neighbors, separated by only 146.57 miles, or 265.88 km depending on whether you’re reading this from the U.S. or Europe, to help you gauge the distance. And yet, we have never crossed paths, which I greatly regret, as the compositions on this album are particularly delightful. It is a tribute to his hometown of Houston, Texas. The witty title of this album refers to the composition of the group, which includes Houston natives, pianist Jason Moran and drummer Eric Harland, while bassist Reuben Rogers—originally from the Virgin Islands—completes the quartet. Together, they bring to life ten captivating compositions by Smith and an imaginative reinterpretation of a piece by Sam Rivers—works that highlight Smith’s rising status as one of the most engaging talents of his generation in modern jazz.

It’s a fact, Walter Smith III has a unique touch in his compositions, decidedly urban, appealing to an audience intellectually capable of following him and enjoying his pieces. Smith explains that when he assembled the new quartet for the album, he noticed that three of the members were from Houston. “And Reuben is not,” he says, laughing. “That influenced the inspirations behind the compositions. By the end of the recording sessions, I was trying to come up with a name for the album, but almost all my ideas lacked inspiration. Then I went back to the first page of my album notes and said: ‘That’s it: «three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not».’ It accurately described the theme and personality of the group.”

Admittedly, it’s a somewhat strange title for an album, but it mainly reveals the humor and humanity of its creator. Despite the numerous ties to Houston, the impulse for forming the quartet came from thinking about Rogers. “He has something in his playing that is very different from other bassists of my generation,” Smith explains, emphasizing Rogers’ respect for the structure of a composition, particularly in his approach to chord changes. “He has an old-school approach to bass—more groove-oriented and melodic, but within the framework of the song.” Modern compositions and arrangements with a classic appearance, indeed, that’s the essence here. But if you listen closely to this album, you can hear both the breath of the city and its cosmopolitan aspect. Those of you familiar with Houston probably know what I mean. This quartet is truly a delight for festivals, impressive both in compositions and performances, and also because Walter Smith III’s offerings are unlike any other, his urban artist talent not shying away from offering moments of pure poetry, as in the track “Misanthrope’s Hymn.”

With “three of us are from Houston and Reuben is not”, Smith hopes to draw attention to Houston as a major cultural hub. “Texas is not just oil, guns, and politics,” says Smith. “There’s a rich, thriving cultural community that many don’t see when they think of this state.” I left this comment from the artist because it particularly amused me, as someone from Europe, I recall everyone talking about the U.S. as being an extremely dangerous country. It can be, yes, but it’s certainly less risky to walk the streets of Austin or Houston late at night than the streets of Paris. And to return to this album, you can buy it with your eyes closed; it’s indeed one of the little gems of 2024 that truly deserves a spot on our list of “Indispensable Albums.”

Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News

PARIS-MOVE, October 6th 2024

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