Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"The music provides conclusive evidence not only of Smith's still-growing prowess as a world-class musician and composer, but also of the strength of the current Scottish jazz scene."
KENNY MATHIESON - The Scotsman ***** (5 stars)
"A very strong contender for Smith's best outing yet on disc."
KENNY MATHIESON - Jazz Wise **** (4 stars) - KENNY MATHIESON
"Cohesive and with an energetic commitment to group interplay, this group is clearly just beginning. Remarkably mature and well conceived, Forbidden Fruit suggests greater things to come. Where they’ll be in a year’s time is anybody’s guess, but the story will be well worth following."
JOHN KELMAN - All About Jazz - JOHN KELMAN
"Smith wrote the music, which he fixed around the conflict of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, so it reflects the drama, contrast, romantic innocence and betrayal of that fable. It does so superbly, with the leader sounding fresh and inventive on tenor and soprano"
RAY COMISKEY - The Irish Times **** (4 stars)
- RAY COMISKEY
"This is a quartet which is really together."
PETER BEVAN - Northern Echo - PETER BEVAN
"Smith's most fully rounded and accomplished album, demonstrating the wide range of his artistry and the musical empathy of his sidemen"
JIM LOVE - Inverness Courier - JIM LOVE
"Smith’s clear saxophonic debts, both to the questing spiritual earnestness of John Coltrane and to the slightly austere lyricism of Jan Garbarek, are sensibly channelled in this thoughtful but viscerally affecting suite into playing of great power and emotion"
CHRIS PARKER - Ronnie Scott’s Magazine - CHRIS PARKER
"TOMMY Smith, one of our leading sax players, seems to save his best for the international stage. Smith often stands at the lip of the stage, fist under his chin. You get the impression he is appreciating the array of talent alongside him. This is a rare talent, who, despite his ego, lets others hog the limelight." BARRY GORDON - Scotsman **** (4 stars) - BARRY GORDON
Discography
GFM Records
Giant Strides 1983
HEAD Records
Taking Off 1984
HEP Records
The Berklee Tapes 1984
Progressions 1985
BLUE NOTE Records
Step By Step 1988
Peeping Tom 1990
Standards 1991
Paris 1992
LINN Records
Reminiscence 1993
Misty Morning and No Time 1994
Azure 1995
Beasts of Scotland 1996
The Sound of Love 1997
Gymnopedie 1998
Blue Smith 1999
SPARTACUS Records
Spartacus 2000
Into Silence 2001
Alone At Last 2002
The Christmas Concert 2002
Bezique 2002
Evolution 2003
Symbiosis 2004
Forbidden Fruit 2004
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Combining jazz, classical, folk & rock elements, these 4 musicians have developed a telepathic understanding to create music that’s adventurous, imaginative & emotionally stimulating. This is just the beginning of a bold new venture. His youthful partners have already inspired Tommy Smith to alter course and explore fresh avenues of expression.
Tommy Smith - tenor saxophone
Saxophonist Tommy Smith is one of Scotland's many jazz musicians and composers, an internationally recognised soloist, composer, educator and bandleader since the late-1980s and the musical director and driving forces of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and his own elite Youth Jazz Orchestra.
His CV, since touring and recording the Whiz Kids (ECM Records) album with vibraphonist Gary Burton at the age of eighteen, includes a total of twenty-three albums under his own name for Hep Records, GFM, Blue Note Records, Linn Records and his own Spartacus label.
Smith has worked in jazz groups and big bands, recorded and toured with world-renowned jazz musicians, including saxophonists Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Benny Golson, vibists Joe Locke and Gary Burton, pianists Chick Corea, Tommy Flanagan, John Taylorand Kenny Barron, guitarists John Scofield, bassists Reginald Veal, John Patittucci, Miroslav Vitous, Eddie Gomez and Arild Andersen, drummers Trilok Gurtu, Jack DeJohnette, Jon Christensen, Adam Nussbaum and Billy Drummond and trumpeters Kenny Wheeler and Randy Brecker. He has composed for and performed with classical orchestras and ensembles, including the Orchestra of St. John's Square, the Scottish Ensemble, the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and the Paragon Ensemble, and has recorded and performed with classical pianist Murray McLachlan, and Gaelic singer Karen Matheson.
His work with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra includes programmes of Pat Metheny, Oliver Nelson, Basie, Ellington, Mingus, Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Gil Evans, Stan Kenton, Monk, Benny Carter, Chick Corea and Maria Schneider as well as Smith's own compositions such as Beauty and the Beast for David Liebman and Torah for Joe Lovano, and his many acclaimed achievements include his work for solo saxophone 'Alone At Last', utilising samples, harmonizer, loop machine and surround-sound concerts to 48 venues over the USA, France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.
His work in jazz education began while working for Gary Burton in 1986 when the group had to present masterclasses to international students all over the world, this kind of work continued with his own groups until 1990 when he starting teaching at Broughton High Jazz School. In 1993 he began teaching improvisation at Napier University. In 1995 he created the curriculum for the National Jazz Institute in Scotland which he directed until 1998. He has given masterclasses all over Europe, Americas and Asia.
Steve Hamilton - piano
Scottish Jazz pianist Steve Hamilton was born in Aberdeen in 1973. He grew up in a musical family with pro musician father Laurie a constant source of inspiration & invaluable musical information.
After encouragement and tuition from internationally renowned saxophonist Tommy Smith, Steve applied for and won a full scholarship to study Jazz Performance at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. This great opportunity was made possible by financial support from many kind people, including pop icon Phil Collins.
After graduating in 1995, Steve spent the following five years in London where he met the legendary drummer Bill Bruford and became a long standing member of Bruford's internationally acclaimed Jazz quartet "Earthworks".
Steve returned to Edinburgh, Scotland in 2001 and is currently promoting his new Trio, featuring Alyn Cosker on drums and Aidan O'Donnell on acoustic bass in addition to his collaborations with Don Paterson.
Steve has performed and/or recorded with: Larry Coryell, Eddie Henderson, Martin Taylor, Pee Wee Ellis, Rick Margitza, Freddie Hubbard, Vincent Herring, Gary Burton, Bobby Hutcherson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Mark Egan and many more
Michael Janisch - acoustic bass
Michael Janisch is an electric/acoustic bass player from the United States. He attended the famous Berklee College of Music, in Boston, on full scholarship, where he performed around the US with many internationally known artists and the schools top touring and recording ensembles. Since he graduated from Berklee in December of 2002, he has become a very busy professional freelance bassist who is at home playing anything from classical double bass to contemporary jazz to soul and r&b music. Only in his mid 20s, his talents have taken him to many countries around the globe.
Michael has had the privilege of studying with Ray Brown, Dave Santorro, Whit Brown, John Clayton Jr., Christian McBride, Betrum Turetzsky, and Abraham Laboriel. He has been featured on many recordings playing electric and acoustic bass in all styles of music, and has alread
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