By J.D. Considine, Downbeat The cover for In Common 2 is identical to its predecessor, except the outsized heads of pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Nate Smith are photoshopped onto the bodies of the first album’s rhythm section. In other words: same concept, slightly different players. Read this full review … Read More
By Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens team up again to co-lead a new In Common project. Read the full feature here.
By Martin Johnson, The Wall Street Journal The new recordings by pianist Aaron Parks and the duo of saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens couldn’t have come at a better time. In contrast to many jazz recordings, their music is easy to listen to, with familiar song-form structures and straightforward solos. The immediate … Read More
by Matt Micucci, Jazziz 10 Albums You Need to Know: May 2020
By Nate Chinen, WBGO Jointly led by tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens, the post-bop unit In Common released its self-titled debut in 2018. The success of that venture led to a sequel, with a different handpicked rhythm section: Linda Oh on bass, Nate Smith on drums and a newcomer, Micah Thomas, … Read More
George Kanzler, Hot House Two tenor saxophonists with distinctive sounds that skirt the current Coltrane/Shorter-style mainstream of tenor playing have new recordings. Walter Smith III comes out with a second edition of the quintet he coleads with guitarist Matthew Stevens, while Dayna Stephens debuts a new trio with just his saxophones, bass and drums. On In … Read More
By Dave Cantor, Downbeat Saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens achieved such artistic fulfillment with their 2018 album, In Common, they’re back for another go. The co-leaders launched the band in 2017 with the idea that it could have rotating members. In Commonfeatured vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Marcus Gilmore, … Read More
Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens Present In Common 2, out May 15th on Whirlwind Recordings Long-time musical associates Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens perform in a multiplicity of projects at the vanguard of the international jazz & improvised music scene: touring and recording with Esperanza Spalding, Ambrose Akinmusire, Christian Scott, Terence Blanchard, Dave … Read More
