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Nate Smith
For nearly two decades, Nate Smith has been a key piece in reinvigorating the international music scene with his visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming. He holds a diverse and ample résumé — which includes work with esteemed jazz leading lights such as Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, José James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, and Somi among many others. His 2x GRAMMY-nominated debut album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop. He’s also ventured into the pop/rock world with recent collaborations with Vulfpeck spinoff band The Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and performances with songwriters Emily King and Van Hunt. In recent years, through a series of viral videos, he has emerged as one of the most influential and popular drummers of his generation. His videos have been viewed millions of times and have inspired countless musicians and fans. In September of 2018, he released his first ever solo drumset album Pocket Change.
As a composer and arranger, Mr. Smith received two GRAMMY nominations for his composition “Home Free (for Peter Joe)” for best instrumental composition and best arrangement (instrumental or a cappella). Of the KINFOLK: Postcards From Everywhere project, Mr. Smith says: “It was my goal to start with the simplest of elements, singable melodies with familiar harmonies, and use them to weave stories that felt nostalgic without being overly sentimental. Pieces like ‘Retold’ and ‘Pages’ use familiar, consonant harmonies as a means of evoking the listener to “reach back” for a memory, while ‘Skip Step’ and Spinning Down’ use layers of rhythm to express a feeling of unsettled tension. ‘Disenchantment: The Weight’ uses an ascending/descending chord progression to simulate a deep sigh of resignation, while ‘Home Free (for Peter Joe)’ uses a hymn like melody as a means of evoking feelings of both solemnity and ceremony.
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Nate Smith: A Drummer's Life
![Read "Nate Smith: A Drummer's Life" reviewed by Mark Robbins](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/2010/4ab5a67eda4d7664b976d5eb9a8c960b.jpg)
by Mark Robbins
Nate Smith can't sit down! After headlining with two of his bands at the 2022 Newport Jazz Festival, The Fearless Flyers and Nate Smith + Kinfolk he is off to New York for a one week run at the Blue Note followed by jny: Los Angeles, Europe and then back to the United States where he is on the road for the rest of the year. For the past 20 years Smith has worked with the biggest names in jazz, ...
read moreSomi: Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba
![Read "Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/b0be69c13091ba68aed91a1ce1b7c105.jpg)
by Angelo Leonardi
Il legame musicale e simbolico con l'Africa resta centrale nella produzione artistica di Somi, la vocalist e cantautrice statunitense dai genitori africani giunta al successo con gli album The Lagos Music Saloon e Holy Room. Il suo nuovo progetto è dedicato a Miriam Makeba, che avrebbe compiuto 90 anni il 4 marzo, data di pubblicazione del presente album. I brani in scaletta, tutti presi dallo storico repertorio della cantante, sono condivisi col musical Dreaming Zenzile, che Somi ...
read moreNew releases from Protocol, Mark Lockheart, Nate Smith and Clerq
![Read "New releases from Protocol, Mark Lockheart, Nate Smith and Clerq" reviewed by Len Davis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/f0584f412d5034eae02b26d8ea3fa51e.jpg)
by Len Davis
Featuring Chad Wackerman, John Novello and new releases from Simon Phillips and Protocol, Nate Smith and Mark Lockheart. Playlist Chad Wackerman"Spiral" from Legs Eleven (Self Produced) 00:00 OHM"Ohmage" from OHM (Black Note) 06:08 John Novello"Journey To Nowhere" from Threshold (Holographic) 12:23 {J K Kleutgens 5 For Eddie" from Cave Men (J2K) 18:27 Protocol"Jagnnath" from Protocol 5 (Phantom) 24:44 Gustavo Carmo"Gradient Descent" from Gustavo Carmo (Self Produced) 30:57 Mark Lockheart"Jagdish" from Dreamers (Edition) 37:13 Nate Smith"Altitude" from Kinfolk 2: ...
read moreThe Legendary Nate Smith: What's the story?
![Read "The Legendary Nate Smith: What's the story?" reviewed by Leo Sidran](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/f0584f412d5034eae02b26d8ea3fa51e.jpg)
by Leo Sidran
Drummer, composer and bandleader Nate Smith is known and celebrated in many circles. In recent years his drumming has become as influential as it has been ubiquitous. Transcription books of his playing have been written, and any drummer trying to play funk or pocket oriented music today will have to confront Nate's playing one way or another. He has a very specific and personal way of drumming, both deeply reliable and rooted, and also very fluid and flexible.
read moreNate Smith: Kinfolk 2: See The Birds
![Read "Kinfolk 2: See The Birds" reviewed by Mark Corroto](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/3276ae246ab9fcc6d7e006377828a9f0.jpg)
by Mark Corroto
If there were brick & mortar establishments called record stores today, one could imagine the challenge Nate Smith's Kinfolk projects would pose for an employee trying to file his latest releases. Those familiar with the drummer's work in the bands of Chris Potter, Dave Holland, or Alex Sipiagin might place the discs in the jazz section, but then again he's worked with the jazz/pop/soul singers José James and Norah Jones and he heads up the funk/soul band The Fearless Flyers. ...
read moreWalter Smith III: In Common 2
![Read "In Common 2" reviewed by Paul Rauch](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/52ee952e0794a1e48c12f2f29bfa8a0f.jpg)
by Paul Rauch
The musical paths of saxophonist/composer Walter Smith III and guitarist/composer Matthew Stevens have crossed on many occasions over the years, touring and recording together in their respective bands and those of Esperanza Spalding, Ambrose Akinmusire, Terence Blanchard, Dave Douglas and Terri Lynne Carrington. They first recorded together in 2017, convening a stellar band to interpret original compositions written for the session. In Common (Whirlwind, 2018) was well received for its original sound and spontaneity. They've reconvened for In ...
read moreNate Smith: Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere
![Read "Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/a3866174488_10.jpg)
by Angelo Leonardi
In aggiunta alla brillante carriera nei gruppi di Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jose James e molti altri, il quarantaduenne batterista debutta da leader presentando un jazz fresco e immediatamente gradevole ma allo stesso tempo fantasioso negli impasti timbrici e nei ritmi. Un risultato ottenuto grazie alle cantabili composizioni originali (profumate di aromi soul e hip-hop con accattivanti leggerezze pop) e alla presenza di magistrali ospiti come gli stessi Holland e Potter, ma anche di Lionel Loueke e Gretchen Parlato. Il ...
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