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FOUR | TOMMY SMITH, STEVE HAMILTON, ORLANDO LE FLEMING, SEBASTIAAN DE KROM | Tommy Smith
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FOUR by TOMMY SMITH, STEVE HAMILTON, ORLANDO LE FLEMING, SEBASTIAAN DE KROM, released 07 August 2026
1. FOUR
2. When I'm All Alone
3. The Lady Is A Tramp
4. My Secret Love
5. Mil Dew / Cottontail
6. Someday My Prince Will Come
For more than twenty-five years, this recording sat quietly in my archive, waiting for the right moment to be heard. Recorded live at Gateshead Arts Centre in 1999, it captures a quartet whose music was built on trust, spontaneity and the joy of collective improvisation.
Unlike most live albums, this performance wasn't recorded through a mixing desk. A single stereo microphone was placed in front of the band, recording directly to MiniDisc. There was no PA, no amplifiers and no post-production trickery; just the natural acoustic sound of four musicians interacting in the room. What you hear is the complete second set, presented exactly as it unfolded.
Joining me are three exceptional musicians: Steve Hamilton on piano, Orlando Le Fleming on acoustic bass and Sebastiaan de Krom on drums. Each brought an individual voice to the music while sharing a commitment to listening, responding and shaping every performance as a genuine conversation.
Rather than polish away the imperfections, I've chosen to preserve the honesty of the occasion. For me, this recording reflects the essence of live jazz: the risk, the freedom, the interaction and the excitement of discovering the music together in front of an audience.
I'm delighted to finally share this performance and hope it offers a vivid snapshot of a remarkable quartet at a particularly creative moment in its journey.
"My favorite kind of record. Get the players in the room. Choose some songs. And go at it! Tommy Smith at his best! "
— Gary Burton
“Tommy Smith is a modern master of the jazz saxophone. He resides at the top tier of contemporary players and this recording shows exactly why; the passion, the endless improvisational invention, the technique (and the wind!) to back it up. This is a thrilling live recording of a lord of the idiom in his prime.”
— Kurt Elling
“Under Tommy’s leadership and driving tenor voice, the quartet produces a captivating set full of spirit and inspiration. Enjoy this historic document from one of the leading tenor players of our time.”
— Joe Lovano
“Tommy has made many outstanding recordings over the years, but FOUR may just be my favourite. If you value exceptional musicianship, genuine interplay and a profound respect for the jazz tradition, this album belongs in your collection.”
— Chris Minh Doky
"So unique, So Original, yet So Organic. I can’t find the right words to describe how inspired I get every time I play with this guy. And I’m sure you feel the same way as a listener from the first note you hear him play. Full of positive energy with so much love for music, that’s “Tommy Smith” itself. Trust me! He’ll give you everything he’s got."
— Makoto Ozone
“Tommy plays with an ability and fluidity at the highest level. Listen and enjoy—Tommy is playing his ass off.”
— Bill Evans
“Tommy Smith proves his amazing ingenuity with incredible versions of old standards and a great rhythm section. A fantastic acoustic live recording.”
— Arild Andersen
“Tommy Smith is a natural, playing with tremendous positive energy and a great command of the language of jazz. Fantastic playing!”
— Jerry Bergonzi
“Tommy Smith has a voice of his own—a unique style and the flow of a well-seasoned saxophonist.”
— George Garzone
“Tommy Smith is great now and, as we can hear here, he was great in 1999.”
— Tor Hammerø
“There is always a good reason to stop playing this kind of music ? But then again !!!!”
— Thomas Blachman (Judge on the Danish version of X Factor)
"Tommy is a rare combination of an Apollo and a Dionysus, waging a battle for supremacy with two incredibly sharp swords. Neither side wins—but what remains is an Adonis with the most beautiful mind. I love Tommy."
— Carsten Dahl 2026
"The musicianship of this quartet is amazing; the rhythm section is always on the edge; all of this allows Tommy Smith to play to the best of his abilities.
The ideas flow, and from a musician's point of view, the harmonic content of Tommy's lines is very deep. The time feel is so strong that it makes you want to stand up and dance!!!
Dave Liebman once told me that great art must address these three components: the heart, the body, and the mind.
Tommy covers all three aspects of art for sure!"
— Manu Pekar