Dwayne 'Smitty' Smith

I've really enjoyed playing with Smitty over the years. It's great to see him come out with his own music that puts his bass playing in focus on the cool funky tracks on his new release. The inventive arrangement of "So What" stands out as well as the syncopated "Man Up". This CD is a must for all modern bass players as well as anybody that enjoys funky R+B and jazz."
Jeff Lorber - Jeff Lorber

When a musician makes the decision to become an artist there are so many new challenges that can get in the way of the music. When you listen to artist, Dwayne Smitty Smitty, it doesn't take you long to hear that he stood steadfast to a vision of inspiration. The commitment to the sound, the groove, the history and the future of music art on this recording compels you, inspires you to do best.
Will Kennedy (Yellow Jackets) - Will Kennedy (Yellow Jackets)

"Smitty Smith is by far one of the best bass players in Los Angeles and probably on the planet. His resume reads like a who's who of the music industry. I can always count on Smitty to lay down a funky, solid bass line. He's helped me out on numerous occasions, keeping the band together with his solid reliable bottom.

As far as his record.. I'm surprised how creative, imaginative and ambitious the music is.

Check it OUT!!!"
- Jeff Lorber

I really enjoy your cd. It was good to hear fresh clean sound from a great bass player. So keep the good music coming. . . - Ray Knight, Dayton, Ohio

"Dwayne Smitty Smith's new CD is a masterpiece, this funky, smooth, well thought out project takes you on a fun ride through many styles and colors. With great songs, impeccable production, "This Is Me" is a must have CD for your collection, it is one of the best CDs featuring bass I've heard and Dwayne "Smitty" Smith is one of the best players I've ever heard!"
- Ron Brown

Bass player Dwayne “Smitty” Smith is not really very well known beyond the inner circle where musicians reside. Nonetheless, his debut CD, This Is Me, serves as a great introduction to his talent. If you didn’t know who he was prior to hearing this CD, you will surely remember him by the time the CD ends. There are 10 songs on this CD, most of them original tunes written by Smitty. He effectively plays a number of styles here, easily moving from funky, to smooth, to soulful, and spiritual. There are several headliner musicians on this album helping him out, including Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, and Will Downing. Smitty also has some good, solid side musicians playing alongside him for this release, including: Brian Simpson, Oscar Seaton, Tony Moore, Tim Gant, Dwight Sills, and Gail Johnson, among others.

“Funky G,” which I presume is named for Gerald Albright, opens the album with a smooth jazz sax groove by Albright, accented by Smitty on the bass. Smitty next covers the Stevie Wonder tune, “Can’t Help It,” (made famous by Michael Jackson.) You get to hear the bass strongly on this one and get a sense of Smitty’s talent. The bass becomes his voice, and it’s supplemented by the background vocals of Will Downing’s silky baritone. In the title song, “This Is Me,” Smitty “formally” introduces himself and takes you into the heart of his playing. Aptly titled, “This Is Me,” this tune really introduces the listener to what he can do on the bass. “Just a Taste” really is just what the title says it is. It is a 57 second teaser. Just when you think the song is going to take off, it’s over. “YLKMS (Your Love Keeps Me Strong)” is an R&B flavored vocal tune, with the vocals being supplied by Tim Kepler. This is standard R&B fare, but nonetheless, fits in with the other songs on this release. “201 Lynwood” features Smitty playing alongside Tim Gant on keys. Less we forget that this is a bass player’s album, Smitty stretches out in the middle of the song and delivers a funky, head bopping solo.

The best songs on this CD are the ones where Smitty brings the bass front and center and really showcases his talent, like “About That,” “Palladium,” and “Little GoGo.” His moving version of the spiritual, “Amazing Grace” is stellar. This song is played as primarily a bass solo piece, and as it is the last song on the album, it leaves the listener with a strong impression of both the musician and the instrument.

This is a bass lover’s CD, and if you’re a fan of the instrument, this is one for your collection.

- Mary Bentley, Smooth Views

Coming from someone who saw excellence and musical mastery on the stage of the famous Blues Alley that Tuesday night[July 18, 2006]. This was his premiere East Coast performance.

Smitty stepped up onto the stage in front of a full house and started his show with a tune from Wayne Shorter that caused my mouth to drop! It was the perfect song to begin with and immediately grabbed the audience’s attention. 19 year old drummer Mike Reid played an amazing drum solo that had everyone shaking their head in disbelief. This is the wonder of Smitty Smith because he allows his ensemble to step up to the plate with him and together, they create a sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard.

The next song played was “Funky G” and funky it was! I watched around the room as heads were bobbing and the grimace of hearing music so good it hurts was on everyone’s face! I felt like I was being taken to another place! Smitty played as a virtuoso bass would on this song and had the crowd wondering what was coming next.

Smitty became very interactive with the audience at this point teasing them with soulful, funky bass lines from songs done years ago but still hit the spot when you hear them. Some of the intros he teased the audience with were from songs like, “Skin Tight”, “Let’s Grove Tonight”, “Mr. Magic”, “Under Pressure” and “Money”. What this really turned out to be was a well orchestrated introduction to his current single “Can’t Help It”. In this performance, he created a lilting and dynamic duet with the flutist another very talented member of this ensemble. They all played together like a well oiled machine yet, we were told, except for the guitarist, Smitty had never met any of these musicians until a few days before the performance! Incredible!

The title track “This Is Me” was played next and this original tune from the CD was funky, funky, funky! Stinging bass reminiscent of Stanley Clark - but different! With all the funkiness, there was also a mellow and melodic feeling to this song. Drummer Mike Reid was in perfect sync!

The pace slowed and became introspective with the Smitty’s solo rendition of “Amazing Grace”. It was sweet, it was beautiful, and it was like a prayer. There was a point in the performance where Smitty took the melody down to almost a whisper- like sound and the audience was leaning forward to hear every last note. You could have heard a pin drop at that moment. This is how much Smitty Smith had the audience’s attention. It doesn’t get any better than that for a performer. After the song, Smitty humbly gave credit to “The One who created music” as well as to his friends, family, and especially, his wife and children. It was a very touching moment.

Next, he spoke of bass players who have influenced him. Names included, Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, and Bootsy Collins. This again was a perfect introduction to song in tribute to Marcus Miller, who he said he shaped his style after. On this song, he played this bass like a stringed instrument up and down the fret blowing the audience away! He kept the audience riveted!

As if that weren’t enough, he then played a tribute to DC Go-Go music with his song, “Little Go-Go”. This song had a mischievous melody with just a hint of “Go-Go” and great rhythm guitar throughout. Again, Smitty’s fingers were flying so fast across the bass during the solo that you could barely see them! The whole ensemble came together for a perfect ending to a perfect night. The show ended with a standing ovation and the crowd begging for one more. Smitty obliged with a beautiful rendition of “What’s Going On?”

Dwayne “Smitty” Smith gave an unbelievable performance and did something very special; he let his bass do his talking for him. Expect to hear of more good things coming from this very talented and in my opinion, virtuoso bassist.

The band:
Dwayne “Smitty” Smith -Bass
Mike Reid -Drums
Wayne Bruce -Guitar
David Wells -Flute and Saxophone
Daryl Hunt -Keyboards
Vince Evans -Keyboards


Sherelle Cary Smith
- Sherelle Cary Smith

Dwayne “Smitty” Smith would have to get the award for bringing on the evening’s hottest and all out funkiest jam. (The brotha got down.) They went from playing bass and saxophone in octaves to having the band throw Smitty an all out, down and out, one-chord (the tonic), concrete groove over which he pumped a mad solo. He walked through the aisles while he played, giving the audience a close up taste of his energy and cool spirit. . . . his performance of his own material [was]something to remember for all who where there for the witnessing, . . .
Bravo, Mr. Smith.
- Scott Detweiler

". . .immediately likable, multi-stylistic debut."

"This Is Me" begins in picture perfect, in-the-pocket, light funk territory with the silky retro soul-flavored "Funky G"; the track feature's [Gerald] Albright's lead...

". . .a moody cover of Stevie Wonder's little-heard "Can't Help It" (which includes [Will] Downing's soothing wordless vocals)"

"and [This Is Me] the thoughtful, laid-back title track."

"Smith's original "About That" is an expansive, ambient piece that features some intricate interaction between Smith's bubbling low tones and [Jeff] Lorber's shimmering Rhodes." The bassist digs back into the fusion era for a spirited, seven-minute-plus twist on Wayne Shorter's "Palladium", a definite player's track". . .

"The disc closes with an all-too-short, joyful yet restrained trip to church in "Amazing Grace."

CD review - Jonathan Widran, Smooth Jazz News

Your playing is stellar, as always...and the songs, musicianship, overall vibe was [is]
totally enjoyable to listen to. - Dave Koz

"Smitty plays his bass like no one else and together with Land Richards form the core of one of the most reliable and solid rhythm sections ever to lay down a groove."

Review of Starlight Jazz Serenade performance of "Funky G" - Scott Detweiler, NoHO Arts District.com

"Incredibly Good!!! This is by far the Best Bassman album I've heard for years. Dwayne, I'ved loved your playing with Jeff Lorber (one of my favourite musician), and now it's a real pleasure to [have] found your solo album."

Peace & Music from Paris France, Doctor Soul
- Doctor Soul - Paris, France

"Smitty plays his bass like no one else and together with Land Richards form the core of one of the most reliable and solid rhythm sections ever to lay down a groove."

Review of Starlight Jazz Serenade performance of "Funky G" - Scott Detweiler, NoHO Arts District.com