Home » Jazz Musicians » Enoch Smith Jr.

Enoch Smith Jr.

Jazz and gospel music are branches of the same glorious African-American cultural tree and have influenced each other throughout their long histories. Gospel has been a source of inspiration to many jazz musicians, and its influence has been especially pronounced in the sacred works of Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams. Conversely, it was a former jazz and blues pianist, Thomas A. Dorsey, who as the composer of such songs “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “It’s a Highway to Heaven,” and “Peace in the Valley” was the principal architect of what is today known as gospel music. “It’s my belief that jazz would not exist in the form it does today if not for black gospel music and its contributors,” pianist and composer Enoch Smith Jr. wrote in a column titled “Bringing the Gospel to Jazz: A Misfit’s Theme” that appeared in the September 2016 issue of Down Beat magazine. The Rochester, New York-born, Allentown, New Jersey-based musician—with his acclaimed series of gospel-immersed jazz albums—2010’s Church Boy, 2011’s Misfits, 2015’s Misfits II: Pop, The Quest: Live at APC, and now To Houston With Love all on his own Misfitme label—is at the forefront of bringing the tree’s already related branches even closer together. “A humble piano player in his community church quietly released the salvation of jazz, and its future,” Carol Banks Weber wrote in her glowing review of Misfits II: Pop for axs.com.

Enoch's new CD To Houston With Love contains music written specifically for this project as a fundraiser for the hurricane Harvey flood victims of Houston, Texas.

Speaking on the genesis of the 8 tune set Enoch says "I have met and retained many relationships with people from the Houston area since attending college at Berklee. Most are still very good friendships, this music is my way of lending a helping hand".

Enoch continued "I assembled a group of musicians who donated their time and talents to record the music in a one day recording session. I got a recording studio to discount their fee. I produced, sang lead and background vocals, and played on the session"!

Those generous and very talented musicians are Reggie Quinerly drums, Matt Parker, Myron Walden and LaQuin Lay saxophones, Estee Bullock vocals, Antoine Drye and Carlos Nwankwo on trumpets.

The bass players are Jordan Scannella and Gabriel Vivas on the 2 instrumentals with Corey King on trombone and Enoch Smith Jr. on piano, all keyboards and hammond organ, lead vocals (Water and Freedmanstown) background vocals.

Read more

Tags

10
Album Review

Enoch Smith Jr.: The Quest: Live at the A.P.C.

Read "The Quest: Live at the A.P.C." reviewed by Jim Trageser


The Church has long been a cornerstone of African-American cultural identity, as well as musical inspiration. Gospel is the third leg of African-American music, coming of age alongside jazz and blues in the early part of the 20th Century. Pianist Enoch Smith Jr. has managed to keep feet in two of those worlds. As music director at Allentown Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania, Smith works with the house band for each week's praise selections. But he's also ...

13
Album Review

Enoch Smith Jr.: Misfits II: Pop

Read "Misfits II: Pop" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Growing up in the Pentecostal Church of God by Faith (in Rochester, NY) has been the biggest musical influence on pianist Enoch Smith, Jr. He titled his 2010 self-produced debut Church Boy and continues to serve as full-time Director of Music and Worship and pianist for Allentown (NJ) Presbyterian Church. “Growing up and playing mostly in church, you get a whole different side of what music is all about," Smith explains. “For me, it was always more of a spiritual ...

379
Album Review

Enoch Smith, Jr.: Church boy

Read "Church boy" reviewed by Javier AQ Ortiz


Pianist and composer Enoch Smith, Jr. appears in the recorded jazz landscape fully blossomed, ripened and in full swing. His thrilling ChurchBboy bears a brazen and welcomed Christian musical engraving that offers proof of expected influences from classical, soul, gospel music and the Protestant Christian hymnody. However, there's no denying the Latin and Caribbean tinges, such as on the reggae-like “Untitled (No Words)." In a repertoire that pretty much divides itself neatly in half between lively and mid-tempo material, just ...

311
Take Five With...

Take Five With Enoch Smith, Jr.

Read "Take Five With Enoch Smith, Jr." reviewed by Enoch Smith Jr.


Meet Enoch Smith Jr.: “I'm a music lover first. My musical ability is just an extension of my love. Jazz, gospel, music for film/television, you name it and I can tell you a story about how I fell in love with it." At the late age of 14 he began playing piano by ear at his church. This blossomed into a love affair that would prove lasting. By the age of 16, Enoch was determined to be ...

Read more articles
3

Recording

Pianist/Composer Enoch Smith Jr. To Release His 4th CD, "The Quest: Live At APC," November 11

Pianist/Composer Enoch Smith Jr. To Release His 4th CD, "The Quest: Live At APC," November 11

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

The Quest: Live at APC is the latest recorded chapter in composer/pianist Enoch Smith Jr.’s ongoing search to find a seamless synthesis of jazz and gospel and a balance between the spiritual and technical aspects of his creativity. Smith’s 4th CD as a leader and first live date will be released by his Misfitme Music label on November 11. “It’s my belief that jazz would not exist in the form it does today if not for black gospel music and ...

2

Recording

"Misfits II Pop," 3rd CD By Pianist Enoch Smith Jr., Due For Release By Misfitme Music May 19

"Misfits II Pop," 3rd CD By Pianist Enoch Smith Jr., Due For Release By Misfitme Music May 19

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Pianist/composer Enoch Smith Jr. has embraced the “Misfit” mantle ever since his days at Berklee College of Music, when the self-taught musician realized he didn’t quite fit into the mold of his classmates and their daunting formal training. But Smith’s eclectic, refreshingly different music does fit quite nicely into the ever-evolving jazz tradition. On his third album, Misfits II: Pop, he continues to refine his approach to the jazz mainstream and other influences, including hip-hop and his ongoing work as ...

64

Recording

Pianist/Composer Enoch Smith Jr. Releases "Misfits," His 2nd CD as a Leader, Nov. 8

Pianist/Composer Enoch Smith Jr. Releases "Misfits," His 2nd CD as a Leader, Nov. 8

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Pianist/composer Enoch Smith Jr. has taken his own unconventional path to a rising career in music, the latest chapter of which is the November 8 release of his CD Misfits. The new disc, on Smith's label Music4MyPeople Entertainment, is an engaging follow-up to his 2010 debut Church Boy. Misfits boasts eight originals by the Rochester, NY native, including “Wise Man," inspired by Ellis Marsalis; the instrumental “She Moves Me," written for his wife Gabriella; and “I Want You," composed for ...

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

To Houston With Love

Misfitme Music
2018

buy

The Quest: Live At APC

Misfitme Music
2016

buy

Misfits II: Pop

Misfitme Music
2015

buy

Misfits

Misfitme Music
2011

buy

Church boy

Self Produced
2010

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.