Hendrickson-Smith,Ian Up In Smoke CD

Recorded live at the Smoke jazz club in N.Y.C. (with studio quality audio fidelity), this CD marks the recording debut of up-and-coming altoist Ian Hendrickson-Smith. This quartet date, featuring David Hazeltine on piano, Barak Mori on bass and Joe Strasser on drums, offers a carefully chosen mix of standards ("The Best Things in Life Are Free," "Chelsea Bridge," "I'll Close My Eyes") and strong original compositions that harken back to the classic hard-bop recordings of the late '50s and early '60s. Hendrickson-Smith possesses a big, sweet, open sound and a sure sense of swing and drive in his playing.

1. The Best Things in Life Are Free 2. Molly 3. Chelsea Bridge 4. Curacao 5. Portrait of Smith 6. I'll Close My Eyes 7. Segment 8. Up in Smoke! 9. Sassy