C.T.
Smith
Maryland native Carey Smith began playing guitar
at age 13 and was shortly thereafter exposed to jazz music. His influences
include Joe Pass, Charlie Parker and local legend Danny Gatton. After
a year playing professionally in the Czech Republic he began studying
with Justin Lees and Steve Abshire. Carey has performed with John Jensen,
Dave Wundrow, Robert Redd, Percy Smith, Bertell Knox and other greats
of jazz music. He has released two albums for Patuxent Music: Introducing
C.T. Smith and His Sic 'em Boys and C.T. Smith and Friends Play Harold
Arlen.
Since before man has measured time he has employed it in the making of music. And since that universal pendulum began to swing, he has qualified this most essential creation, from the intolerable to the great. The former does not live long, if ever it does at all; the latter becomes a part of humanity at large. The ways in which we gauge those merits of our music are many and range from the most complicated technical arguments to the simple test of enjoyment. There is then the grueling course of history. By any standard, the music you hold before you will prove itself world-class.
Carey
Smith's unrivaled work ethic, his technically impressive playing, and
his profound sense of aesthetics are all evident here. Most impressive
on this debut album, though, is his ability to choose and blend the right
men for the job, then focus their strengths to pull off innovative arrangements
of great tunes. He almost perfectly balances the traditions of the music
he loves with the vitality and freshness of his age. His strength is a
grand paradox that seems almost impossible: he is ambitious to the point
of obsession, a perfectionist bent on being the best, looking forward
to an ever receding horizon, never satisfied. Yet he humbles himself,
measuring his progress by the merits of the greats who came before him.
He considers his accomplishments and progress with a technical flashlight
pointed to the past. His will and his work to become a distinguished guitarist
are part of a greater want: to contribute to the great tradition and collaboration
of jazz.
Ill Wind * Ding Dong the Witch is Dead
* Harry and Anya *
Happiness is a Thing Called Joe * Get Happy * As Long as I Live *
The Lollipop League / Follow the Yellow Brick Road / We're Off to See
The Wizard *
My Shining Hour * Stormy Weather * If I Only Had a Brain *
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea * Over the Rainbow
Guitar: C.T. Smith Tenor
Sax: Rusty Mason Piano:
Robert Redd
Drums: Percy Smith Bass:
Dave Wundrow Trombone
& Cornet: John Jensen
with: Nate Leath, Marv Reitz, Carin Rennings, Austin Caughlin,
Tom Mindte & John Escobar
Like Someone in Love *
Blues (Fast) * In a Mellow Tone **
Stompin' at the Savoy * Scrapple from the Apple * Rockin' Chair *
Yardbird Suite * Honey B's / Have You Met Miss Jones *
Whims of Chambers * There's a Small Hotel * Seven Come Eleven
Guitars: C.T. Smith,
Justin Lees Bass: Dave
Wundrow
Drums: Burtell
Knox Violin:Nate Leath
Guest Artists: Steve Abshire, Matt Duffy, Tom Mindte, Jay Montrose,
Matt Piazza