Tommy Smith in Lillestrøm Kultursenter, Norway

ARILD ANDERSEN IS VOTED EUROPEAN MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
FROM THE FRENCH “ACADÉMIE DU JAZZ”.
“Choc Jazzman of the Year “ JAZZMAN Magazine 2008
“Disques d’Emoi “ of Jazz Magazine 2008
JEFF DAYTON BEST OF 2008
"The highlight is a forty-minute suite celebrating the centenary of Norway's independence from the yolk
of Swedish
subjugation—seriously. That the music is so consistently intelligent and passionate is a tribute to all three
members of the
trio, but particularly saxophonist Tommy Smith."
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE - CRITICS CHOICE (5 STARS) *****...

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ARILD ANDERSEN IS VOTED EUROPEAN MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
FROM THE FRENCH “ACADÉMIE DU JAZZ”.
“Choc Jazzman of the Year “ JAZZMAN Magazine 2008
“Disques d’Emoi “ of Jazz Magazine 2008
JEFF DAYTON BEST OF 2008
"The highlight is a forty-minute suite celebrating the centenary of Norway's independence from the yolk
of Swedish
subjugation—seriously. That the music is so consistently intelligent and passionate is a tribute to all three
members of the
trio, but particularly saxophonist Tommy Smith."
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE - CRITICS CHOICE (5 STARS) *****
"Arild Andersen creates a kaleidoscope of modern jazz composition."
"Absolutely and unreservedly marvelous, and (being an ECM disc) sonically impeccable, too."
THE HERALD (4 STARS) ****
"It's all about masters at work: Andersen creating big, warm structures through real-time double tracking
and his fingers
scampering gleefully over the strings; Smith variously understated, magisterial and venomous; and
Vinaccia a brilliantly
responsive, subtly propulsive livewire whose dynamic range enhances quiet atmosphere and charging
tempo alike."
THE SCOTSMAN
"It was a sustained display of high-level musicianship in which Andersen took the acoustic bass (plus
some additional
electronics) into territory that remains inaccessible to most players, while Smith demonstrated once again
that he is a
saxophonist of world-class standing in any company. His flow of musical invention combined with a rich,
lustrous sonority on
tenor saxophone to dramatic effect. Vinaccia's probing drumming played a full part in the three-way
musical conversation."
MOMENT'S NOTICE (BRIAN MORTON)
"This new trio teams Andersen with Italian percussionist and composer Paolo Vinaccia and with Scottish
tenor
saxophonist Tommy Smith, who having concentrated largely on his own groups and his own Spartacus
imprint now once
again seems willing to bring his distinctive voice to other leaders’ situations. Smith is at the height of his
powers. There are
few saxophonists of any age capable of what he does on “Prelude To A Kiss,” which manages to sound
lyrical and iron-hard,
free and logically watertight. For years he struggled under an inevitable comparison with Jan Garbarek.
One has to pick one’s
Garbarek sets carefully – though Triptykon would certainly be one – to make the parallel or the influence
work. These days,
Smith sounds like no one but himself, a supremely confident artist working in the company of his peers."
ALL ABOUT JAZZ
"With enough form to lend cohesive shape to the entire set and plenty of freedom to allow Andersen,
Smith and
Vinaccia to take the music where they will, Live at Belleville is Andersen's most exciting release to date.
Even more, balanced
with its lyrical and, at times, near-orchestral tendencies, it's the best disc of Andersen's long and varied
career."
THE SCOTSMAN 5 STARS (*****)
"MY JAZZ album of the year. Norwegian bass maestro teams up with saxophonist Tommy Smith and Italian
drummer
Paolo Vinaccia in a trio that is brimming over with compelling ideas and creative invention."
JAZZWISE 4 STARS (****) 'This is nothing short of a masterclass."
THE GUARDIAN 4 stars (****), as always, has the air of a master at work."

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