Artist:The Buddy Rich Big Band f/Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Song:Standing Up in a Hammock
Album:Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich Vol. 2
Again I am using this Buddy Rich tribute album to feature a drummer who I normally wouldn't be able to feature due to lack of video footage and other reasons. Marvin "Smitty" Smith is an in demand sideman and session musician who rarely records as a leader. He was born Marvin Smith Jr. June 24, 1961 in Waukegan, IL which is a Chicago suburb. His father Marvin Smith Sr. was also a drummer and Smith Jr. learned to play when he was very young. After graduating from high school, Smith studied at Berklee in Boston. After graduating in 1981, he moved to New York and joined singer Jon Hendricks' band. Since then he seems to live in the recording studio. Smith has recorded two albums as a leader for Concord in the late 80s. He was also the drummer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno band led by Kevin Eubanks from 1995-2009. He works frequently with bassist Ray Drummond. I guess they are hired as a unit. Who has Smith worked with? The question is who hasn't he worked with. It's a laundry list including Donald Byrd, Michel Camilo, Robin Eubanks, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Dave Holland, Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp, McCoy Tyner and many others. He still does that today. So it shouldn't be surprising that Smith appeared on this Buddy Rich tribute concert organized by Rush drummer Neil Peart. Peart is a drum geek. Every song has a guest drummer. Rich recorded Standing in a Hammock on 1968 album The New One!. It was written by Woody Herman pianist and arranger Bill Potts. Of course drum geeks will love this. But I'm not a drum geek and I've been a Marvin "Smitty" Smith fan for years. Here's The Buddy Rich Tribute Band featuring Marvin "Smitty" Smith performing Standing in a Hammock at the Ritz Theater in New York City Apr. 8, 1991.
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