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Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). "It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin "Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house.
At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's drum set and would watch him practice, intensely. Whenever his father took a break, he would crawl over and press the foot pedals and attempt to emulate his dad. That experience, and banging on pots and pans, was the extent of his playing until he began formal training at the age of three.
Today, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a young musician extraordinaire whose work has been described as a "comment on invention, firm and adventurous time and technical sufficiency." He has traveled extensively throughout the Orient, Europe, and the continental USA; and he has shared the stage with such greats as Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Frank Foster and Frank Wess, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, and Milt Jackson. He is a former member of the Ron Carter Quartet, The New York Jazz Quartet, and The Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet.
Featured on more than 45 albums, additional performances and recordings augmented with Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison, Ray Brown and Phineas Newborn, George Shearing, Bobby Watson, Hamiet Bluiett, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Emily Remler, Peter Leicht, Kevin Eubanks, Donald Byrd, Monty Alexander, Diane Reeves, Michel Camilo, and Grover Washington Jr. Currently he's a member of Steve Coleman's Five Elements, and The Dave Holland Quartet. Smitty conducts seminars and clinics for students in jazz workshops, both in the United States and Europe; and is currently on staff of jazz program at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Canada, and Drummers Collective, New York City.
Smitty has been Downbeat Critics' Poll winner for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, 1985 through 1987, and 1989. Smitty performed on the Soundtrack of filmmaker Spike Lee's "School Daze", appeared in Sonny Rollins' music video "Saxophone Colossus", and a member of Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun" South American tour, 1987. Regarded as a well rounded musician with the ability to play all styles, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a blossoming composer and arranger, and his success has earned him two albums as a bandleader. As a versatile drummer, there seems to be nothing be cannot do.
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![Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/e639c31fe436ac884ea5182023e4c0d3.jpg)
by Mike Jurkovic
A most generous craftsman, composer and bandleader, pianist Orrin Evans never fails to bring out the best of whoever he chooses to create with. The Red Door is gratefully, and gracefully, no exception to that rule. Whatever musical setting Evans chooses to practice his sinewy, r'n'b inflected post-bop in--sideman, big band, trio, quartet, duo, whatever--a sweet animation propels his music and buoys the players gathered around him. In this case the two core units feature bass legend Buster Williams, ...
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by Jack Bowers
Even though New Orleans' lively and colorful holiday festival is the focal point of trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra's latest recording, this is an album that can be heard and appreciated at any time of the year, as there is never a day when pleasure and happiness aren't in style. Delfeayo, a member of the multi-talented Marsalis family from New Orleans that includes brothers Branford (who is a guest artist on two tracks), trumpeter Wynton and ...
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![Read "That's Funky" reviewed by AAJ Staff](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/36323669380c0ac41c8ebd8a82c74578.jpg)
by AAJ Staff
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by C. Michael Bailey
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read moreJazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith
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Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Marvin Smitty" Smith's birthday today!
Marvin Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith
![Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/734dc215db8b9d05e224c5d161fa3083.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Marvin Smitty" Smith's birthday today!
Marvin Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith
![Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/734dc215db8b9d05e224c5d161fa3083.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Marvin Smitty" Smith's birthday today!
Marvin Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith
![Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/734dc215db8b9d05e224c5d161fa3083.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Marvin Smitty" Smith's birthday today!
Marvin Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith
![Jazz Musician of the Day: Marvin "Smitty" Smith](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/734dc215db8b9d05e224c5d161fa3083.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Marvin Smitty" Smith's birthday today!
Marvin Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father\'s ...
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Olivier Le Goas
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Music
Weezy
From: The Red DoorBy Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Uptown on Mardi Gras Day
From: Uptown on Mardi Gras DayBy Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Forasteira
From: L.A. Source CodesBy Marvin "Smitty" Smith