Cecilia Smith: Dark Triumph: The Life of Victoria Lancaster Smith

In a similar way, vibraphonist and composer Cecilia Smith has undertaken an ambitious project to commemorate the life of an African-American woman, Victoria L. Smith, born in 1931—who exemplfies the struggle not only for career equality, but against discrimination within her own subculture. Trained as a nurse, Victoria Smith became the black appointee at a hospital in Toledo, Ohio where she worked for many years, before moving on to California and Detroit to suit the needs of her family. After her children had grown and her husband had passed on, Smith became a Peace Corps nurse to fullfill a longtime ambition, serving in Africa and Costa Rica.

The narrative itself is worthy of a made-for-television movie and is served on this recording through the narrative of Victoria Smith herself, who relates the various chapters of her life that begin each of the album's musical tracks. Titles like "Spring/The Darkesst Child," "Grief and Disasters" and "An African American in Rio Frio Costa Rica" speak for themselves in terms of dramatic recitation.

Composer Cecilia Smith has written an ambitious score that is, in many ways, more classical than jazz, but certainly has portions that reflect both. Her use of a large orchestra with string section, the Boys Club of Harlem, and jazz combo are effectively united in the finished product. Cecilia Smith's work has been previously noted on her two Brownstone albums, and she was featured on California-based Mark Masters' orchestral tributes to jazz greats. She is afforded several good opportunities to display her sense of dynamics and swing on the vibraphone during the course of this album.

Inasmuch as there will be listeners who find the storytelling/orchestral format disruptive, a second disc consisting only of the music has been made available to the public, allowing the music to stand on its own.

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