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Jazz Articles about Nate Smith
The Legendary Nate Smith: What's the story?
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.
Continue ReadingNate Smith: Kinfolk 2: See The Birds
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. ...
Continue ReadingWalter Smith III: In Common 2
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 ...
Continue ReadingNate Smith: Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere
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 ...
Continue ReadingNate Smith: Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere
by Mike Jacobs
To get right to it, rarely does a first effort as leader come along that is so worthy of attention. With Postcards From Everywhere, Nate Smith has offered a many-faceted jewel whose luster only grows with re-examination. On one level, this is indeed an album that satisfies the requisite expectations for a debut from a drummer of Smith's caliber. It has tunes covering a wide range of influences, great grooves in both straight and unusual meters, and of ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland: Critical Mass
by AAJ Italy Staff
Questo ottimo album del bassista Dave Holland incarna l’idea di classicità moderna. Ascoltandolo se ne ricava immediatamente la sensazione che sia un lavoro che si pone in una posizione ‘centrale’ nel panorama jazzistico dei giorni nostri. Una sorta di raffinata costruzione architettonica attorno alla quale ruota la musica stessa di Dave Holland, un bassista che non si è fatto mancare in passato i brividi delle avanguardie anche più estreme e che strada facendo ha deciso di ‘rientrare’ in gruppo. Senza ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass
by Joel Roberts
Bassist extraordinaire Dave Holland believes that like fine wine, music shouldn't be unbottled before its time. Holland and his highly regarded quintet spent a year and a half honing and retooling the music on their new album until it reached the point he calls “critical mass, where “it has become what it's going to be. That patience, care and commitment to getting things right is evident throughout Critical Mass. This is the work of a working band, ...
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