Josh Smith - Burn to Grow

2018 CD release.

This all-original CD — the 10th in his catalog — mixes blues, jazz, rock and soul into a cohesive package. The structure for all of the material remains stellar even though Smith and all of the musicians involved improvised their parts as they went along.

He’s backed here by an all-star lineup of sidemen, including Travis Carlton and Davey Faragher on bass, Lemar Carter and Pete Thomas on drums, Carey Frank on organ and a horn section composed of Jamelle Adisa (trumpet and flugelhorn), Chris Johnson and J.P. Floyd (trombone), and Matthew DeMerritt and Dan Boisey (saxes). Grammy winner Monet Owens – who’s worked with Boz Scaggs, Celine Dion, Queen Latifah and Michael McDonald — sings lead on one tune and provides all background vocals throughout.