Tao-Njia

Tao-Njia is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith which was recorded in 1995 and released on the Tzadik Records' Composer Series.[1]

Tao-Njia
Studio album by
Wadada Leo Smith
Released1996
RecordedNovember 17 & December 14, 1995
StudioCapital Recording, Los Angeles, CalArts, Valencia, California
GenreJazz
Length43:00
LabelTzadik
ProducerWadada Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith chronology
Kulture Jazz
(1993)		 Tao-Njia
(1996)		 Golden Hearts Remembrance
(1997)

Music

"Another Wave More Waves" is performed by Smith's ensemble N'Da Kulture. "Double Thunderbolt" is a composition in six movements created as a memorial for Don Cherry with poetry by Smith's wife, Harumi Makino Smith. On the title track, the trumpeter is backed by the California E.A.R. Unit, a chamber ensemble conducted by Stephen "Lucky" Mosko.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[3]
Down Beat[4]
Tom HullB[5]

In her review for AllMusic, Joslyn Layne states "Incorporating personal philosophy and beliefs into his compositions through mood and accompanying texts, Smith creates a warm album of spiritual instrumental music."[2]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes "Recent years have seen Smith personally and musically involved with Oriental culture, and this is strongly reflected in Tao-Njia. Acoustically, it is one of his most remarkable records, a rich montage of sounds that are at once new and immediately familiar."[3]

The Down Beat review by John Corbett says "Tao Njia's three pieces are gentle, deceptively spacious compositions loaded with the gestural oomph of a master calligrapher. One might call them 'chamberish,' but that would be to miss their stylistic breadth, their Asian classical overtones and the force of Smith's soloing."[4]

Track listing
All compositions by Wadada Leo Smith
  1. "Another Wave More Waves" - 9:30
  2. "Double Thunderbolt: Memorial for Don Cherry" - 12:14
  3. "Tao-Njia" - 21:16

Personnel

References
  1. "Wadada Leo Smith discography". Jazz Lists. jazzlists.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. Layne, Joslyn. Wadada Leo Smith - Tao-Njia: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  3. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2002) [1992]. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (6th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 1361. ISBN 0-14-051521-6.
  4. Corbett, Joihn. Tao Njia review. Down Beat April 97. Print.
  5. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Wadada Leo Smith". Tom Hull. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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