Spring Is Here: The Guitar Genius of Johnny Smith

• Artist: Johnny Smith
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Spring Is Here: The Guitar Genius of Johnny Smith is a good compilation of 22 tracks from 1952-1955, drawn from five different sessions. Smith plays in an assured, notably Charlie Christian-influenced fashion on these recordings, the lineups that he leads usually backing him in an early bop style. The material mixes standards, interpretations of compositions by contemporary jazz players such as Bud Powell and John Lewis, and a few Smith originals. While Smith's own compositions take up a pretty small percentage of the program, these include by far the most famous of these, "Walk Don't Run" -- the same song made into one of the biggest instrumental rock hits of all time by the Ventures in the early '60s. The arrangement of that tune is pretty different here, though you can hear almost identical solo lines in the verse. Also on hand is Smith's most popular recording, "Moonlight in Vermont," one of the four tracks on which Stan Getz handles tenor sax, though Getz is the only other famed musician to play on these selections. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Where or When		Johnny Smith	(2:28)
Vilia	Franz Lehár	Johnny Smith	(2:43)
Moonlight in Vermont		Johnny Smith	(3:16)
Jaguar [Alternate Take]	Johnny Smith	Johnny Smith	(2:30)
What's New?	Bob Haggart	Johnny Smith	(3:07)
Walk Don't Run!	Johnny Smith	Johnny Smith	(2:49)
Lover Man		Johnny Smith	(2:29)
But Beautiful	James Van Heusen	Johnny Smith	(2:51)
Swinging on a Star	James Van Heusen	Johnny Smith	(2:37)
Nancy (With the Laughing Face)	Phil Silvers, James Van Heusen	Johnny Smith	(3:19)
I Thought About You	James Van Heusen	Johnny Smith	(2:13)
Polka Dots and Moonbeams		Johnny Smith	(2:45)
Django		Johnny Smith	(5:04)
Wait Till You See Her		Johnny Smith	(2:17)
0500 Blues	Johnny Smith	Johnny Smith	(3:48)
More Bass	George Roumanis	Johnny Smith	(2:31)
Uno Poco Loco	Bud Powell	Johnny Smith	(4:27)
Easy Living		Johnny Smith	(3:19)
Old Girl	George Roumanis	Johnny Smith	(3:54)
Little Girl Blue		Johnny Smith	(2:50)
Tired Blood	Johnny Smith	Johnny Smith	(4:19)
Spring Is Here	Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart	Jimmie Smith	(2:46)