CD RELEASE INFO

'Blue and Green' (pms10103)
Peter Smith Quartet
[Latin-jazz instrumental]
March 7 2003

'Blue and Green' is the latest release from saxophonist Peter Smith.
Doubling on flute and clarinet, Peter is a graduate of the jazz program at UofT ('95) and former student of Humber College. His combos can be heard at clubs and special events in southern Ontario and elsewhere. As well, he performs freelance with other artists, notably Heather Bambrick and Full Count Blues Band.
Peter coaches a pro-am big band and teaches a jazz workshop, private students, and freelance masterclasses. He is writing a journal of improvisation lessons. His compositions and arrangements can be heard on a number of recordings.

More than either of our first two recordings, 'Blue and Green' is very much a live capture of what the band sounds like in performance. All tracks were recorded 'live off the floor', with only a few overdubs of second percussion or harmony horns. Most were done on the first take, a few on the second. The instruments are as you hear them, less than perfect in some cases with key clicks and string scratches left in. As with our first two recording, only acoustic instruments were used. We felt that the joy we experience performing together could not be presented in the typical multitrack-many days, recording format. And jazz is, after all, about the moment.

Recorded in February of 2003, this is also the quartet's most straightforward album: It really is just a quartet this time, and it is entirely Latin in flavour. A few standards are presented in ways thet are not often heard, and a few lesser known compositions by the greats. There are also a number of originals included, several by the leader and one each by the guitarist and bassist.

It is, we hope, an intimate performance of some of our favourite songs like you would hear if you had the four of us in your living room! Some thoughtful, some refreshing; think of jade palms and azure waves: 'Blue and Green'.