NATE SMITH

LIVE ACTION

Naïve Records, division of Believe Group

Nate Smith is a multi-talented musician. He’s a composer, arranger, producer and master drummer, but he also plays percussion, keyboard and a host of other instruments on this album. The development of this project took two years.  Everything on his production is recorded ‘live.’ Nothing was sequenced or programmed. Nate has invited a host of super talented people to this party, musicians who are all unique and amazing in their own right.  For example, JSWISS opens the album with a song called “Undefeated” that he and Smith collaborated on. The trumpet of Marquis Hill sweetly adds a jazzy impact to their hip hop arrangement.  That’s the thing about Nate Smith’s music.  He blends artists and genres with ease and finesse.

The one song that Nate ‘covers’ was originally recorded by the Pointer Sisters, titled “Automatic.” For this tune, Smith contracted the great vocalist, Lalah Hathaway to interpret his refreshed arrangement of this song. The result is absolutely beautiful.

One of my favorites on this album is “Magic Dance” that features the talents of guitarist and vocalist Lionel Louke, born in Benin, a West African country bordered by Togo and Nigeria. Louke paints Smith’s contemporary music with world music brushes.  The colors are brilliant and soothing.

Nate Smith has invited the vocal quartet that calls themselves Säje to this album project. They are made up of Sara Gazarek, Erin Bentlage, Johnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor. The ladies won a Grammy Award in 2024 for their debut album. Smith and Amanda Taylor co-wrote a magical song called “Big Fish.”

Smith has made his mark in the contemporary jazz market, as well as establishing his talents in straight-ahead jazz, in rock, R&B, Smooth jazz and everything in between.  He has collaborated or toured with a diversified group of musicians, including Pat Metheny, Ravi Coltrane, Brittany Howard (appearing on her Grammy Award winning song “Stay High” for Best Rock Song), Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, CARRTOONS (who appear on this recent album), and Smith made the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine.  He provided the backbeat for the Late Night Show with Seth Meyers’ house band.  As a bandleader of Kinfolk, he followed up their album successes with “Pocket Change.”  His success is ever growing and all encompassing.  This is a multi-talented individual who reminds me very much of a young Quincy Jones.

PARTICIPATING MUSICIANS: Nate Smith, drums/composer/arranger/keyboards/percussion/piano/all other instruments; JSWISS, spoken word; Lionel Loueke, guitar/vocals; Michael League & Ben Williams, bass; Kieler, Fender Rhodes/synthesizer; DJ Harrison, Fender Rhodes; Charlie Hunter, guitar/bass; CARRTOONS, bass; Marquis Hill, trumpet; Josh Johnson, saxophone; Jeanette Jang & Anna Bishop, violins; Kimberly Ryan, viola; Peter Greydanus, cello; Lalah Hathaway, vocals; Saje, vocal group: Amanda Taylor, Sara Gazarek, Erin Bentlage, Johnaye Kendrick; Jermaine Holmes, vocals.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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