Jessika Smith, Tricks of Life (PJCE)

A mixture of classic big-band swing, bossa nova and emotive, odd-meter Rhodes music, the record varies immensely from song to song.

[BIG BAND] Jessika Smith wears a lot of hats. A Eugene saxophonist and composer with a master's degree in jazz studies from the University of Oregon, she spends her days teaching grade-school music and her free time playing and composing for her own large ensemble. And it's not that simple. Her debut record, Tricks of Light, is a heavily layered modern jazz album with a sharp, forward-thinking edge. A mixture of classic big-band swing, bossa nova and emotive, odd-meter Rhodes music, the record varies immensely from song to song. It's something closer to a portfolio than a cohesive album. That said, Smith hits most of the styles dead center, with a flair for memorable melody lines and slowly building musical tension. Complex songs like "Lights" begin with small groups of instruments, with the weight of the full ensemble allowed to slowly surround the initial voices, adding harmonies as a form of musical mist. That track, and other more harmonically modern offerings like "Gray Monster" and "If I Loved You" give the best glimpses of the young composer's massive potential. The first large-group release from the prolific Portland Jazz Composers' Ensemble, Tricks of Light is one to look out for—an interesting new gem that shifts in the light with each listen.

SEE IT: Jessika Smith plays Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., on Monday, Dec. 21. 6:30 pm. $10. Under 21 permitted until 9:30 pm.

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