June 8, 2021

I am excited to announce that the Sounds of Mardi Gras in Fresno, California is definitely going to happen! I will be playing there with Captain John Royen’s New Orleans Rhythm — a terrific quartet with John on piano, Kim Cusack on clarinet and Sam Rocha on string bass. I look forward to being back in the Golden State after a long absence and also to seeing and hearing many of my musical friends…

Sarah Spencer‘s brand-new CD is already selling quite well. The disc contains remote recordings made with great musicians from across the U.S. and Europe. I am proud to be involved with this outstanding group of “Global Ramblers.”

(For ordering information, please see my “Recordings” page).

In August, I will be traveling to Davenport, Iowa for the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival. I am pleased to be co-leading the Mortonia Sextet with my old friend Dave Kosmyna. Besides Dave on cornet, the sextet includes T.J. Muller, trombone; Dave Bennett, clarinet; Steve Pikal, bass; and an internationally-renowned interpreter of Jelly Roll Morton’s music: Paul Asaro. In addition to co-leading the sextet, I will be playing some sets with Miss Jubilee and the Yas-Yas Boys, from St. Louis.

I am also anticipating a great weekend at the Redwood Coast Music Festival in Eureka, California (Oct. 1 – 3). There I will lead The Jazzologists and will also play sets with Pappy and Junior’s Western Swing All-Stars, Dan Walton and the Jump Swing Imperials and Swing Central.

The SYNCOPATED TIMES review of “Black Cat On The Fence” is boosting sales of the digital album on Bandcamp:

https://syncopatedtimes.com/hal-smiths-jazzologists-black-cat-on-the-fence/

“Black Cat on the Fence,” and the recordings by On The Levee Jazz Band, Swing Central, Sarah Spencer’s Global Ramblers and the Kris Tokarski Trio may still be heard on the SYNCOPATED TIMES radio network too:

https://www.syncopatedtimesradio.com/

https://halsmith.bandcamp.com/album/black-cat-on-the-fence

Please see my “Recordings” page for other albums which are now being played on TST Radio!

Best regards,
Hal