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Peter Smith

About Me

I am a passionate fan of the Great American Songbook and I am proud of the show that we present week in and week out on Saturday nights at the Fairmont, Battery Wharf and at select other venues. Our show is really aimed at those people who love the songs of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Bobby Darin. Those folks who enjoy listening to the great songs of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart and Johnny Mercer, but who want vocals too, not just the great melodies. I try to credit the composers and, occasionally, tell a story or two about the songs during the course of a show. We also throw a few surprises in every once in a while, such as the great Elvis ballads, “Love Letters” and “It Hurts Me” to go along with standards such as “Night And Day,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “All Of Me” and, my own personal favorite, “How Do You Keep The Music Play”, the great song by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with music by Michelle Legrand. We are voice, keyboards and acoustic bass.

My Jazz Story

I was born in 1962 and I grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Amongst my earliest memories are what I call the sounds of Sundays. My father would come home from his early morning golf game (pitch 'n' putt, really) and put on his records, while the rest of the house was still sleeping. I would awake to the sound of Nat King Cole, Brook Benton and, my Dad's favorite, Perry Como. The songs from those Sunday mornings became the basis for my love for the Great American Songbook and, as I moved through life, I became more and more aware that those great songs became more rooted in my own DNA, and almost demanded to be heard and to be sung. My influences include the absolute greats of the genre, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, June Christy, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Chris Connor, Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Nat King Cole etc. I love the artists who continue to deliver that great material today, such as Freddy Cole, Harry Connick, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum, and the great young singer from Texas, Kat Edmonson. This music matters to me and I try to live the songs as I sing them...I love the words, I love where they have come from, and I love that these great songs are as relevant today as they were when they were written. They are a rich part of the American story and it is my great privilege to play a small part in ensuring that they continue to be sung and to be heard. I love to see you on the trails and please feel free to say hello and request a favorite song of yours. Yours in song, Peter Smith