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Dr. Lonnie Smith: Evolution
By
Wayne Shorter
saxophone1933 - 2023
Evolution is Smith's first album for Blue Note in forty-five years, and it's a real humdinger. Everything we've come to expect from him, included the unexpected, is here. The album is populated with raunchy riffs, greasy grooves, soulful sermons, tidal organ shifts, moody statements, hard-hitting solos, and punchy interjections, all of which help to enliven throwback songs, standards, and new pieces alike. This is past, present, and future Smith rolled into one.
The album kicks off with "Play It Back," a funky number from Smith's Live At Club Mozambique (Blue Note, recorded 1970/released 1995). Double drumming from the likes of

Johnathan Blake
drums
Joe Dyson
drumsb.1989

Robert Glasper
pianob.1978

Joe Lovano
drumsb.1952
The remaining four tracks are split evenly between new originals and standards. That first category includes "Talk About This," a funky number with a hard-hitting solo from trumpeter

Maurice Brown
trumpetb.1981

John Ellis
saxophone, tenorb.1974

Jonathan Kreisberg
guitarb.1972
Dr. Lonnie Smith left Blue Note as a young man, but he returns as a sagacious elder. The wisdom he's gained in the intervening years is parceled out in his every gesture, flourish, and note. Evolution is but a single album, yet it speaks to a lifetime of music making from one of our most treasured organists. ">
Track Listing
Play It Back' Afrodesia; For Heaven's Sake; Straight No Chaser; Talk About This; My Favorite Things; African Suite.
Personnel
Dr. Lonnie Smith
organ, Hammond B3Dr. Lonnie Smith: Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards (6, 7); Robert Glasper: piano (1); Joe Lovano: G mezzo soprano saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (3); Johnathan Blake: drums; Joe Dyson: drums (1-3, 5, 7); Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar; Keyon Harrold: trumpet (1); Maurice Brown: trumpet (2, 3, 5); John Ellis: tenor saxophone (1, 2, 5), bass clarinet: (3), flute (7);
Album information
Title: Evolution | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Blue Note Records
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