Jay Smith Group

Called a “fixture in the Central Valley” (NPR), Jay Smith has had a wide variety of talent flow through his band. From jazz fusion to pop, the band has channeled a wide spectrum of musical genres to stay working and relevant. He is an Alum of California State University Bakersfield and Fresno City College where he earned his Bachelors of Arts and Associates of Arts Degree. He has opened up for groups and musicians as Carl Saunders, Poncho Sanchez, Jeff Coffin, Allan Holdsworth, Malo, Ozomatli, Clayton Cameron, and worked with Kelulu, Mento Buru, The Fresno Philharmonic, Andre Bush, Mike Dana, Velorio, and Patrick Contreras to name a few.

His current projects include Mento Buru which was voted best band of 2018 by Bakersfield Magazine and The Jay Smith Trio/Group which features a variety of players including Cesareo Garasa, Paul Perez, Jay Jay Hicks, Fernando Montoya, Steve Eisen, and Patrick Contreras to name a few.

The band's first album, Unashamed Portrayal, (available on iTunes and 30 other retailers) features Grammy Nominated Guitarist Andre Bush, Jay Jay Hicks, Saxophonist Chris Nguyen, trombonist Joe Vazquez, trumpeter Mark Manda, Fernando Montoya on acoustic and electric bass, Jonathan Weinmann on drums, and Jorge Nunzio Urbina on percussion. It's been featured on ALL ABOUT JAZZ as their download of the day.

Smith's second album, Too Many Notes, was titled by his fans based on his reputation for a blisteringly fast playing style, Patrick Contreras on electric violin, Jay Jay Hicks on 8 string bass, Cesareo Garasa on drums, Fernando Montoya on electric bass and a variety of others are featured on this release.

Tags

Album Review

Too Many Notes by Glenn Astarita
Unashamed Portrayal by Glenn Astarita

Take Five With...

Take Five With Jay Smith

“After about a dozen years in Bakersfield, most of that time spent in music, Smith has become one of the busiest musicians in town, and makes his living purely in his chosen field by performing more than 160 dates a year and giving music lessons at Nick Rail Music to some 50 students, from elementary school age to adults in their 60s.”

“If you thought jazz goes into hiding after the CSUB Jazz Festival, you're wrong. Wildly energetic keyboardist Jay Smith, who mentors students weekly at the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, has assembled a monster group of players for a special show up on the roof. Joining Smith is Grammy nominated guitarist Andre Bush, whose performing credits include stints with jazz heavyweights Nnenna Freelon, Carl Allen, Andy Narell, Liz Story among others. Also appearing will be Bakersfield bassist Jay Jay Hicks, and drummer Jonathan Weinmann.” - Matt Munoz, Bakersfield Californian (Jul 07, 2011)

“I try to incorporate what I've been told by dozens of other musicians greater than myself: learn the theory behind the what makes the music work then play like yourself! It's not enough (especially in this day and age) to know how to play standards well; it really comes down to bringing the music to that next level and making your own impact on the music. ” - AAJ STAFF, All About Jazz (Jan 23, 2011)

“I'm really excited to hear the finished album. There are such wonderful solos and excellent compositions.” - Christine Walsh, KFSR with Christine (Aug 24, 2011)

“A composer as well as a performer, Smith expects to release a new album in October. Titled “Unashamed Portrayal,” it's made up of music he's written in the past as well as some new material. It includes his full band, which is made up of Grammy-nominated guitarist Andre Bush as well as Montoya, Weinmann, Chris Nguyen, Mark Manda, Armando Joe Vazquez, Jay Jay Hicks and Nunzio Urbina.” - Camille Gavin, Bakersfield Californian (Sep 01, 2011)

“Helping to lay the ground work to reinvigorate the local jazz scene outside of the scholastic realm and back into the clubs where jazz music was created.” - Sam Jaime, Bakotopia (Feb 05, 0009)

“Jay Smith put together a killer band....Then he wowed the audience by doing something no one at the workshop had seen or heard before - JAY SMITH SANG!!! Wow - what a night! “ - Frank Maccioli, Bakersfield Jazz Workshop (Sep 09, 2009)

”raising the profile of the local jazz scene” - Jennifer Self, Bakersfield Californian (Apr 29, 2009)

“During the performance, confused bystanders meandered past the window, down 19th Street toward other evening hot spots. Those of inside felt as if we were somewhere special, part of a unique downtown experience. And the musicianship on display was exquisite.” - Aaron Mauldin, Face News (May 01, 2009)

”Jazz has had its seeds planted in Bakersfield for decades. But those seeds aren’t enough for Jay Smith” - Nick Belardes, Face News (Apr 24, 2009)

”Jay Smith played the hell out of the piano, synthesizer, and keyboard �” improvising as the best pianists do on jazz standards and original compositions alike.” - Aaron Mauldin, Face News (May 01, 2009)

Show less

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I have taught music for several organizations including Fresno Unified and Panama Buena Vista School Districts, Arts Council of Kern, Yamaha School of Music, & Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, and have taught for ten years privately, as well as publicly.

images courtesty of the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop

Lesson programs include:
Piano Performance
Piano Technique
Music Theory
Music Composition
Creating/Building a Group
Recording

My rates are very affordable and I am very competitive.
Jay Smith
[email protected]
661-900-9887