*** Tab Smith

TOP 'N' BOTTOM

(Delmark)

Reedman Tab Smith was a jazz-blues instrumentalist who cut some 90 tunes for Chicago's African-American-owned United label in the '50s. Twenty-one of them are here, either delighting with their uptempo grace or playing the groove slow and deep. Smith's sound has the mellow burnished tone of a should-be legend -- especially on alto and tenor saxes. His melodies are generous and easy, but swing is his main thing. Everything he plays has a spring in its step, whether it's the breathlessly happy title track or "Zig-Zag," or his emotionally loaded versions of "Prisoner of Love" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," on which he brings the blue notes down like warm rain. There are a few vocal numbers here too. The zesty double-entendre blues "I'm a Bouncing Mama" (with an uncredited female vocal) is the hands-down gasser. But Smith's sophisticated way with his horn never goes too far uptown to keep anybody from bouncing.

-- Ted Drozdowski