JazzNights 21

On the very first JazzNight, we presented a duo, pianist Bill Charlap and bassist Sean Smith. Now, not quite five years later we are fortunate to have Sean Smith back, this time leading his long-time trio, Keith Ganz on guitar and Russell Meissner on drums. These days, long-lived working bands are nearly unknown. Groups come together, and break up with dazzling speed. There rarely is time for the growth that comes from years of playing together, and that's a great pity. This trio is very much the exception to that unfortunate rule, and the listener can hear the benefits of the longevity of the group immediately. These gentlemen know from long experience where each other is going in a tune, and the music sings and swings as a result.

Sean Smith

Sean Smith is appropriately described as an "elegant" bassist. What's "elegance" in music? I'd say it is a combination of imagination and taste, with perhaps a touch of eloquence thrown in. Where does it come from? Well, it is probably mainly lodged somewhere inscrutably deep in his DNA, but we can try to find other sources - or maybe expressions of this "elegance." I suspect that at least some of it comes from having played with so many excellent vocalists, among them Peggy Lee, Carol Sloan, Suzannah McCorkle, Maureen McGovern, and Mark Murphy - what a list! That kind of experience seems to make for thoughtful playing and to translate somehow into outstanding bandleading. Tommy Flanagan played for years with Ella Fitzgerald, for example, and legions of today's best pianists and bassists graduated from "Betty Carter University," the Jazz equivalent of Harvard. Somehow, the requirement for effective accompaniment - being solid and forceful, but being prominent only when required, translate into strong, but sensitive playing in other contexts.

Of course, Sean has also played in a multitude of important groups - he's often collaborated with Charlap, for example, and was the bassist with Jacky Terrasson (who is coming to JazzNights 23 next fall) for some time. I heard versions of that trio (Terrasson, Smith, and several different drummers) many times in 2002-2003, and my notes often have Smith stealing the show.

Keith Ganz

Somewhere, Sean Smith officially describes himself as "bassist and composer." As this description makes clear, he values songwriting highly, and he is one of the rare musicians whose work is routinely played by other musicians. Mark Murphy was nominated for a Grammy for one of Sean's compositions, for example. Here is a revealing exchange taken from a long interview with Smith by Janet Sommer in All about jazz: (for the full interview, see: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/eyee0500.htm). Smith clearly has trouble making the distinction between the two - and I think that's just great!

Sommer: "If you had to make a distinction, would you consider yourself more a composer, or more a bassist?"

Smith: " ....I don't have one thing out of those two that is stronger. They're both equal, they're both a very important part of me, and they rear their heads at different times, there is a time and place for both of them. They cross paths a lot, probably more than I consciously know. But, I'm a musician. And yes, a jazz musician, but a musician."

Beyond doubt, we'll hear some of his compositions next May.

The excellent CD "Poise," Ambient 783707437224 features this trio. On it, you can also hear Charlap, whose piano alternates with Ganz' guitar, and altoist Allen Mezquida, another long-time associate of Smith's.

The earlier live recording "Sean Smith Quartet," Chiaroscuro 360 is also well worth your time, as is Chiaroscuro 354, a trio led by Gene Bertoncini and featuring Charlap and Smith.

.