Music
Press
“This band grooves like they’ve been at it for years with an upbeat reggae-ska blend.” - The Independent Weekly- Durham, NC
“Easily one of the most soulful bands playing.“ - Ska-Tastrophe - Winter Park, FL
Here is a Chapel Hill band that prizes and displays soul, doesn’t shy away from dancing, embraces Jamaican music… and I don’t have to wear ear plugs.” - Jim Gardner- The Independent Weekly- Durham, NC
“ The effect is downright intoxicating.” - The Music Monitor – Charlotte, NC
“… have the potential to go big… worth the price of admission anytime. " - Trevor Holland- Spectator Magazine – Raleigh, NC
“The band has high energy, great musicianship, powerful vocals, good chemistry with students, and a positive refreshing approach to work.” - Twister Productions - Brevard College, NC
“For an authentic taste of old-School rock steady and ska, look no further…” - WARP Magazine - Oceanside, CA
“ I really like them, Its as simple as that.” - Spoon Magazine – Manzanita, OR
The party really got started, for me, at twilight, when I got to Tyler's Parking Lot in time for a quick cuddle (figuratively speaking) with the Tim Smith band, before my dance date with Saludos Compay. Tim, aka Mr. Goodvibes, will give you a contact-high on life with his jazzy flute, sax of plenty, and that remarkably floating falsetto voice. Orquesta GarDel's Peter Kimosh shares bass duties here, a most excellent foundation for the reggae-inspired groove, and Robert Cantrell brings his Afro-Cuban skills to the congas.
- -Sylvia Pfeiffenberger Onda Carolina
Discography
If you are hungry for good music, you may want to open your palette with a light first course offering; the Jumpstarts 1996 EP "Just A Little Bit" , and then move on to the full length 2000 release "In The Here". The latest work (and the first released under the name Tim Smith Band), 2007's "The World To Me" ups the ante and brings this band into the realm of heavyhitters and chart toppers.
Tim has also performed on recordings by dozens of artist including The Squirrel nut Zippers, The Countdown Quartet, Jackie O Pillbox, The Dynamite Brothers, Mingus Young, J'Azure, Sol Creech Band, Janet Stolp, The Woggles, The Flecktones, Randy Whitt and the Grits and many more.
Photos
Bio
This North Carolina band is a present day extension of Chapel Hills once popular old school ska troupe called The Jumpstarts, and is still cooking up a wonderfully original blend of great music. Based in traditional 1950s style Jamaican ska and reggae, the group stirs in a heavy helping of jazz with a sampling of gospel and blues. Seasoned with soul and a dash of funk, this concoction really simmers. Like an old family recipe passed along from one generation to the next, the dish of a band only gets better with time. Any good saucier knows that the longer it sits, the better it gets. Key to this flavorful cornucopia is composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and band leader Tim Smith who brings to the table a world of experience with other bands and spectacular musicians including:The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mambo Crew, Europa Jazz, Mr. Coffee and The Creamers, Hobex, The SoulSearchers, Sol Creech Band (http://www.solcreechband.com/), J'Azure, BlueStreak, The Countdown Quartet, The Platinum Heavyweights, Jazz Squad, Justin Thompson, The Raleigh Jazz Orchestra (http://www.raleighjazz.com/), Maria Rolls Blues Train, and many more. Appearances on Sesame Street, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and tour dates from Montreaux, Switzerland to Saratov, Russia just scratch the surface of Smiths many musical adventures. Mitchell Rothrock of the Dynamite Brothers, and Sol Creech from the Sol Creech Band add some delicious harmonies to this funky, soulful mix. You’ll certainly want to be present when the Tim Smith Band serves up its next delectable live performance of original music!
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