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Sean Smith
Bassist and Composer
Bassist Sean Smith has been an integral part of the international jazz scene for more than 30 years. He has appeared in many of the major jazz festivals, concert halls, and clubs all over the world.
Sean has performed with Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Art Farmer, Tom Harrell, Jacky Terrasson, Bill Charlap, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Mark Murphy, Jimmy Scott, Andy Bey, Tracy K. Smith (winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry), and many others.
Sean is also a prolific composer whose works have been played and recorded by such artists as Phil Woods, Mark Murphy, Bill Charlap, Gene Bertoncini, Leon Parker, and Bill Mays. His music has also been featured in several films.
Lyrical, melodic, cinematic, and songful best describe Sean's compositions. Ira Gitler has written “His originals are highly listenable and thought provoking music for both head and heart”. Smith’s “Song For The Geese” is the title track of Mark Murphy’s 1998 Grammy nominated album for RCA/BMG.
Sean's ensemble was awarded the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in 2015. In 2007 Sean received a Bistro Award for Outstanding Instrumentalist. Sean was a member of the Jacky Terrasson Trio for four years. His work with Terrasson and Emmanuel Pahud on Into The Blue (EMI/Blue Note) was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award.
For the last 20 years Sean Smith has been a leader of his own group. His dynamic working quartet includes John Ellis on the saxophones, Nate Radley at the guitar, Russell Meissner at the drums, and Sean at the bass. Their recordings include Sean Smith Quartet Live! (Chiaroscuro Records), and Poise (Ambient Records), both featuring his compositions. The Sean Smith Quartet performs regularly in New York City. Their most recent recording, Trust, was released in 2011 on ™ and received rave reviews. Sean is co-leader of The Humanity Quartet, a newly formed group featuring Joel Frahm, Peter Bernstein, and Leon Parker. Their first recording, Humanity, was released in 2018 on Cellar Live. Sean Smith earned his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and lives in New York City.
www.SeanSmithJazz.com
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Kate McGarry + Keith Ganz Ensemble: What to Wear in the Dark
by C. Michael Bailey
Being taken for granted is the greatest tribute and worst slight to any artist. Kate McGarry has made music that brilliantly colors outside the lines since her release, Show Me (Palmetto Records) in 2003 (there was a 1992 standards release, Easy To Love (Vital Records) that is out-of-print). Her career has provided five provocatively thoughtful and inventive recordings between that release and 2018's The Subject Tonight Is Love (Binxtown Records). Listeners have come to expect something a little different from ...
read moreKate McGarry + Keith Ganz Ensemble: What to Wear in the Dark
by Dan McClenaghan
Let us start with a nod to Steely Dan, the rock/jazz group headed up by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, a pair of tunesmiths who hit a career zenith in the early 1970s with albums like Can't Buy A Thrill (1972), Countdown To Ecstasy (1973), Pretzel Logic (1974) and Aja (1974), all on ABC Records. The group drew in top jazz artists to help craft their albums—saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Tom Scott, guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, drummers Steve ...
read moreThe Humanity Quartet: Humanity
by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
This release is from four veteran, first-call jazz instrumentalists who are all concerned about the worldwide loss of humanity (hence, the title of both the quartet and the CD), and wanted to demonstrate what can happen when grown-ups truly connect. As co-producer, bassist, and composer Sean Smith explains in his articulate and passionate liners, ..."the Humanity Quartet represents a fresh sharing of ideas and feelings that bring people together in an increasingly divided world." While neither he nor the others ...
read moreThe Humanity Quartet: Humanity
by Jack Bowers
Music with a message? With a name like the Humanity Quartet and a CD titled Humanity, one might certainly presume no less. Music designed to help save the world from itself? Well, that's an exceedingly tall order. The Humanity Quartet, bassist Sean Smith writes, was indeed created with such a lofty goal in mind, “recognizing the need to bring mankind together through music." Jazz, he further argues, “is music for all people to enjoy. It is the sound of freedom. ...
read moreSean Smith Quartet: Trust
by Dan Bilawsky
Trust is a key element in any successful relationship. Spouses have to trust one another in their day-to-day lives and children have to trust that their parents will be there for them, no matter what happens. Trust between close friends is often a given and, while we don't always think about it, trust between band mates is at the core of any successful musical partnership. In jazz, more than most forms of music, the musicians have to feel comfortable that ...
read moreBilly Lester: Visceral
by Francis Lo Kee
On this set of five standards and one original, pianist Billy Lester displays a strong original approach to jazz improvisation. He also leads a flexible, yet muscular trio, that moves along with him with telepathic skill. Lester has a wide range of approaches: single-note right-hand lines, dissonant block chords, left-hand bass runs that move in counterpoint to the right hand (and his use of the low register piano is fairly unique to most of what you hear ...
read moreSean Smith: Poise
by Glenn Astarita
Bassist/composer, Sean Smith has been the accompanist of choice for vocalists, Mark Murphy, Rosemary Clooney and Peggy Lee while also performing with saxophonist, Lee Konitz, and a host of others. However, Smith also shines as a thoughtful bandleader and composer, evidenced here on his second group led recording.
On this release, pianist, Bill Charlap, and guitarist, Keith Ganz contribute their able talents to selected tracks, whereas the core band features, Smith, alto saxophonist, Allen Mezquida, and drummer, Russell Meissner. In ...
read more"Trust": New CD from Bassist/Composer Sean Smith's Quartet Due March 1
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
Jazz bassist/composer Sean Smith makes a welcome return to recording with Trust—his third album as a leader, his first since 2001, and the debut release for his own imprint, Smithereen Records. Smith's swinging, finely attuned quartet, which consists of guitarist John Hart, saxophonist John Ellis, and drummer Russell Meissner, is dedicated to exploring Smith's original compositions. “Trust is such a big part of what we do," Smith says. “I trust that these guys are going to interpret my pieces without ...
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Sean Smith Quartet @ The Blue Note in New York
Source:
All About Jazz
The Sean Smith Quartet At: The Blue Note Monday, September 1 Sets @ 8:00 + 10:30 With: John Ellis-Saxophones Keith Ganz-Guitar Sean Smith-Bass & Composition Russell Meissner-Drums $10 Cover at the tables $5 Cover at the bar The Blue Note is located at 131 W. 3rd St. (between 6th and MacDougal) New York, NY 10012 bluenotejazz.com Call 212-475-8592 ...
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Sean Smith Quartet @ Silvermine Tavern (Norwalk, CT) on Saturday, April 5
Source:
All About Jazz
The Sean Smith Quartet performs at the Silvermine Tavern (Norwalk, CT) on Sat., April 5 from 8:00-10:30PM With: John Ellis-Saxophones Keith Ganz-Guitar Russell Meissner-Drums Sean Smith-Bass & Composition Please go to: silverminetavern.com for more details and directions. You may also contact the Silvermine Tavern at 1-888-693-9967 or 203-847-4558 for reservations. The Silvermine Tavern is located at: 194 Perry Ave. Norwalk, CT 06850 Hope to ...
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Sean Smith Trio @ Deer Head Inn, Delaware Water Gap, PA 6/15/07
Source:
All About Jazz
The Sean Smith Trio plays at The Deer Head Inn Delaware Water Gap, PA on Friday, June 15 from 7:00-11:00PM With: Keith Ganz-Guitar Russell Meissner-Drums Sean Smith-Bass & Composition The members of the Sean Smith trio have played together for many years sharing a similar passion for music, helping define a very distinctive group sound noted for a rare lyrical quality. With Sean's songful and melodic compositions underscoring the trio, their unique ...
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“Smith’s been steadily building both a strong book of original pieces and a firm rapport…” John Donohue" New Yorker Magazine
“The arrangements are cool, the ballads moody and gorgeous. Both sophisticated and emotional, intricate and uncluttered, it reveals richer artistry with each spin. Highly recommended.” 4&1/2 stars Judith Schlesinger" AllMusicGuide.com
“Sean understands! He also happens to be one of our most promising young composers.” Phil Woods
Primary Instrument
Bass, acoustic
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Sean Smith Bassist, Composer & Teacher Bassist Sean Smith has been an integral part of the international jazz scene for more than 30 years. He has appeared in many of the major jazz festivals, concert halls, and clubs all over the world. Sean has performed with Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Art Farmer, Tom Harrell, Jacky Terrasson, Bill Charlap, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Mark Murphy, Jimmy Scott, Andy Bey, Tracy K
