Ian Smith

For this album, Irish trumpeter Ian Smith put together an eclectic quintet of improvisers: Brian Godding (guitar synth), Marcio Mattos (bass, cello), then-emerging Mark Sanders (drums, percussion), and Thebe Lipere (percussion). Then again, this is not a quintet album, as all five musicians interact on only one of the 12 pieces ("Swordfish"). Smith experimented with various trio and quartet combinations, slipping in a duo with Mattos (the closing number "Tin Foil"), and keeping a solo spot for Godding ("The Laughing Police Force"). Smith's trumpet and flügelhorn playing has been strongly influenced by Bill Dixon: the same fondness for textures, the same use of short, carefully calculated strings of jabbed notes, with occasional sustained tones. The short free improvisations explore moods, while the longer numbers (eight to ten minutes) cover more ground, moving from unaccompanied trumpet overture to swing-like energy. The best moments are the guitar synth-less tracks (like the Smith/Mattos/Lipere trio "Close the Light"). This instrument brings a synthetic and badly aging touch. Whatever Godding tries to do, he only manages to sound disruptive, with the exception of the aforementioned quintet cut, where his playing blends in nicely. Tryst makes a good debut -- too bad it is defaced by horrible artwork. ~ François Couture, Rovi