Rising from dirt poor beginnings in Birmingham and New Orleans, Johnny Smith
found himself in Maine as a youngster where he taught himself to play the guitar.
The only gig to be had was with a hillbilly band called Uncle Lem and the Mountain
Boys. By the 1940s, Smith’s passionate interest in jazz brought him from
Portland to Manhattan, where he became one of the most respected and in demand
guitarists of that era, landing a lucrative gig as an arranger/guitarist for
NBC, which put him in the company of the greatest musicians of the era. Through
this association Smith befriended saxophonist Stan Getz. They formed a quintet
and in 1952 recorded Moonlight In Vermont, which became an instant classic.

Although Smith was a masterful technician, he is recognized for his incredibly
gorgeous tone and exquisite taste, evidenced in abundance on this most delightful
reissue. The music here is as delicate and cozy as watching snowfall from a
winter cabin, sipping cognac to the warmth of a crackling fireplace. The offerings
are
impeccable: “My Funny Valentine,” “Where or When,” “Tenderly,” “Stars
Fell on Alabama” and the aforementioned title selection.