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Smiling Jack Smith
Blues / Roots Music / Other

I never felt This Blue Before...



Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Madrid
Spain

Profile Views:  25162




Last Login:  7/6/2009
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   Smiling Jack Smith: General Info
Member Since1/24/2007
Band Websitehttp://www.smilingjacksmith.com
Band Members-----------------------------------
THE QUARTET
-----------------------------------
SMILING JACK, Vocals and guitar
ANTONIO TOLEDO, Lead guitar
QUIQUE VILLAFANE, Drums
JESUS RODERO, Double bass
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THE TRIO
-----------------------------------
SMILING JACK, Vocals and guitar
DAVID GARCIA, Harmonica
RAUL MARQUEZ, Violin
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Influences

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REVIEW

-----------------------------------

Crossroads Blues Society Reviews,

June 28, 2007-07-10

This Blue Before, by Mark Thompson

-----------------------------------

Every once in awhile a dedicated music fan will discover an unexpected gem. These recordings have escaped widespread attention despite being innovative or just plain great !! The latest by Jack Smith is just such a surprise. It is a blast of fresh sounds and outstanding musicianship from a cast of unknowns. At least they are until you're done reading this review. Smith is a former native of New Jersey who now resides in Madrid, Spain after a lengthy residence in Vancouver. He wrote all of the tunes, plays guitar and handles all of the vocals. Jack worked out the arrangements with his Spanish band, and then travelled to British Columbia to record with production help from his friend, Pat Coleman. The project certainly proves that blues music has indeed become an international art form. Several elements contribute to the success of This Blue Before. Smith writes in a variety of styles and displays a knack for adding humour through a witty turn of a phrase. He sings with deep-toned, powerful voice with a bit of a rough edge to it. The tunes are fleshed out by a phenomenal three-piece horn section consisting of Phil Dwyer on tenor sax, Monik Nordine on baritone and Mike Herriot on trumpet & trombone. The trio play Coleman's brilliant horn charts with gusto and elevate each track with their fine work, as does lead guitarist Dave Vidal. Another key player is Miles Black. Whether on piano, clavinet or the B-3 organ, Black fills in the arrangements with inventive and tasteful displays of his keyboard mastery. All of the instrumental solos throughout the disc are compact and to the point - no grandstanding to detract from the proceedings. Smiling Jack lays down a funky opening track as he tells the sad tale of having the "Deja Blues" all over again. Black establishes the tone on the clavinet with the horn section accenting Jack's vocal and Dave’s biting guitar solo. Smith has several tracks that examine different aspects of the blues. "The Blues Comes Back Again" explores the brief escape that comes from playing on stage. Black contributes several rocking piano solos on "I Found The Blues Again", which cautions not to get to comfortable with the good times. On "I Could Live with the Blues", Smith offers to make peace, if only "..the blues could live with me." In what has to be a first, Smiling Jack manages to build a song with a boogie beat around the Latin legal phrase "Mea Culpa". The title track closes the disc. It is a lengthy, dark meditation on the trials of life and love that serves as a contrast to the abundant good -time feel to the rest of the disc. Vidal unleashes a burning guitar solo before Black calms things down with his swirling organ phrases. You owe to yourself to get a copy of this marvellous recording. It easily surpasses many of the blues releases on larger labels that I have heard in the last six months. Check out Smith's website to get a copy - and to help keep a smile on Jack's face !!!

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Buy the new CD
"THIS BLUE BEFORE"
in HARD COPY or DOWNLOADS
from Root Cellar Records
-----------------------------------
Buy the CD
"Three Seconds To Love Me"
from CD Baby
-----------------------------------

Sounds LikeWant ZOMBIE LOVE as a ringtone on your phone?
[send ringtone]
Want EL PESADO as a ringtone on your phone?
[send ringtone]

Record LabelRoot Cellar Records
Type of LabelIndie


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jun 19 2009 10:00P
El Elegido Valdemorillo
Jun 25 2009 9:00P
La Higuera Hoyo de Manzanares
Jul 14 2009 11:00P
La Coquette Madrid
Jul 15 2009 11:00P
La Coquette Madrid
Jul 16 2009 11:00P
La Coquette Madrid
Aug 7 2009 10:00P
El Elegido Valdemorillo
Aug 8 2009 8:00P
Espejo de Tera, private function Espejo de Tera
Sep 3 2009 11:00P
Irish Rover Madrid

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   About Smiling Jack Smith
Jack Smith was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and grew up in Staten Island, New York. Starting out as a tap-dancer and a singer, he traded in his tap shoes for a guitar at the age of twelve and began writing and composing his own songs almost immediately. He spent the sixties as a folk singer, working with a vocal group called The Smith Brothers (there was one woman singer in the group, but what the heck), that reached its peak when they made a demo for CBS with the legendary John Hammond, Sr.
The decade drew to a close with the formation of the now mythical band Orville Dorp, which migrated to Vancouver in the early seventies. The band had its share of fame with a song called "Jesus Marijuana" which they released as a 45 rpm single, and then passed into history around the time that Jack was given the name Smiling Jack by some friends from a band called Stallion Thumrock.
The name stuck, and Jack stayed in Vancouver for 20 years, becoming a Canadian citizen and raising a son, MacKenzie. During this 20 years Jack formed a number of interesting groups, from Smiling Jack and the Sparklers through Delta Airtight and ending up with a four piece vocal group called Party Fever, which released an album titled " Ahh... Capella" in 1990.
Then Jack moved back to the States for a while, singing a bit of country music in Florida and then living in New Jersey again where his focus finally settled on the blues. His first solo album, "Direct To Dat Jack", was recorded in Hoboken in 1994.
A visit to Spain opened up a world of new possibilities and later that year Jack moved his blues to Madrid, where he has been living for the last 14 years with his wife Carmen and their daughter Maria. During this period Jack released 4 CDs in Spain, "First Night With The Blues" in 1996, "Second Chance" in 1997 and "Three Seconds to Love Me" in 2002.
His his fourth CD, "This Blue Before", was recorded in Canada, using an all-star line-up of Canadian musicians as well as his Spanish drummer, Quique Villafane. The recording was produced by the internationally famous jazz guitarist Pat Coleman and features a brillant horn section led by Phil Dwyer. It was released in 2006 and was played on the radio on three continents, including Australia, prompting a two month tour of New South Wales in 2008
Over the course of some 40 years as a working musician, Jack has had the great fortune to work as an opening act for some of the biggest names in show business, including B.B. King, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Clyde Copeland, John Hammond, Jr, and the Reverend Gary Davis.
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   Smiling Jack Smith's Friend Space (Top 34)
Smiling Jack Smith has 1622 friends.
 Pepe Torres 


 Sue 


 Andrea Smith 


 Patty Benson 


 ROXY PERRY 


 Louise Hughes 


 MONICA DUPONT 


 Mary4Music ♫ 


 Robbie King 


 Tyler Jakes & The Bootleggers 


 Jim Foster 


 THE IRISH ROVER MADRID 


 David Garcia 


 Late For Breakfast 


 Joe DeRenzo 


 Henry Correy 


 Buddy and Hopkins Music Cartoons 


 Antonio Serrano 


 Antonio Toledo 


 RAUL MARQUEZ 


 *Blues Mama* 


 Rene Worst 


 Mama’s Blooz House 


 Dan Granero 


 Glen Terry 


 Phil Graham Band 


 Finn 


 Anni Piper 


 Matt 


 JR ABELLA 


 vera 


 David Gwynn 


 Javier Sanchez 


 Valentin Iturat 





Smiling Jack Smith's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 664 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
MONICA DUPONT





Jun 30 2009 8:39 PM

I treasure your friendship and your fantastic music so much !!!!!!!!
love
m
vera





Jun 30 2009 8:34 AM

Jack,ya vuelvo a Madrid!!

He visto que tienes fechas en La Coquette,seguramente pueda pasarme uno de los días a escucharte y saludar.

¿cómo va todo?

un abrazo.
Landon Roberts and his "Blues Buddies"





Jun 28 2009 4:37 PM

Thanks for the friendship & great tunes & playing...Very nice !!!

Peace, Landon
Louise Hughes





Jun 28 2009 1:45 PM

Hi Jack,
thanks for popping in. I see you now have a trio & quartet.....hope that's working well for you & you're getting plenty of gigs. If I ever want a song recorded in Spanish, I'll be sure to let you know!!!I often think of Minmi & how cool it was to meet you.Take care,
Love Lou xx
MONICA DUPONT





Jun 26 2009 6:07 AM

You are such a beautiful being who lives in my heart-I wish things were simpler !
I adore you,
m
Flynn Amps





Jun 24 2009 6:51 PM

Hi everybody, just here to say our new RORY GALLAGHER HAWK BOOSTER is ready for shipping. Have a listen if you get a chance, All the best, Stevie Flynn.
June





Jun 23 2009 6:07 AM

Jack that pic of you is the best I've seen...
Ahh good ole Oz!
Yes weather patterns world wide are out of control!
Tamworth has been OK we are in winter and have frosts
but then the seasons have a reason..
Glad to hear the music is going OK!
Keep up singing the blues and smilin jack...from june
MONICA DUPONT





Jun 10 2009 4:34 AM

Love you and will be back online soon
m
Bonnie Mccallum





Jun 7 2009 7:21 PM

Hello Jack,
Came back for more, just wanted to say, I love 'Follow the Money' & 'Now that truth was gone'. Great voice my friend, once again, THANKYOU!
Glen Terry





Jun 6 2009 4:03 PM

Hi Smiling Jack! Enjoying the Ride in Chicago!
Kate Ceberano and Mark Isham





Jun 3 2009 4:53 PM

Hey, thanks for the add! Hope you are great!

Mark Isham + Kate



http://www.bittersweetthealbum.com
adam fagan





Jun 3 2009 10:45 AM

great tunes man :)
Coloured Vinyl





May 29 2009 8:38 PM

There is no hope for the cream to rise. All our dreams are a crock of lies. Yes we deeply emphathise, roll on is what we do..

Be our fan at facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coloured-Vinyl/202298440726
KAREN VALENTE DUO





May 26 2009 5:32 PM

Merci pour l'ajout.
J'adore!
Bises
Jim Foster





May 23 2009 2:45 AM

Hey Jack. Hope you're doing well. I've been MIA locked in the studio and not getting in touch enough but wanted to let you know my cd is done. I have a label and they're releasing a single right away so I put a couple tunes up if you're interested.
There's a new version of Lone Bird. Hope you like it. Cheers
Heidi Raye





May 21 2009 2:33 AM

Hey There :)
Thank you so much for your friendship... I hope everything's going well for you! My debut album is now on iTunes, so that's been my excitement for the week! haha
Take care!
-Heidi-
www.heidiraye.com
Richard Madden FORCE OF NATURE CD Now available!!





May 15 2009 4:58 AM

Thanks for taking the time to check out my music :)

All the best,
Richard
Blue Family





May 12 2009 9:45 PM

thanks for the add!!!
http://www.bluefamily.rs
The Peppermint Apes Aust Street Team Page





May 12 2009 1:59 AM

hope you have a great week and if you can plse sign my guestbook :))
RiYeN RoOtS☮





May 11 2009 6:16 PM

WhAt'S GoOD FaMiLY?
I'm JuSt KeEpIn' BuSy..WoRkInG HaRd aT ThEsE BLuEs...
BaCk To ThE StUdIo In JuNe To ReCoRd TuNeS FoR My NeW CD..!!
GeTtInG ReAdY To HiT ThE RoAd ThIs SuMmER.
HoPe To SeE YoU At A ShOW DoWN ThE RoAD.
TiLL ThEn..

If YoU ArE GoInG To TrY..
Go aLL ThE WaY..
Do It...ALL ThE WaY..
DoN'T LeT AnYoNe StEaL YoUr ShIne..
2009 BeLoNgS To YoU..
MaKe It Do WhAt It Do!!


MaY ThErE Be FeW StOnEs In YoUr PaSsWaY,

~ RR ☮
maurizio bestetti





May 11 2009 10:43 AM

hi jack....what's up there?
ciao
Best
LiCk´





May 8 2009 9:15 AM

Hola ! Muchas gracias por el agregue !!Un saludo desde Guadalajara ..
www.myspace.com/uncolordiferente
June





May 4 2009 9:56 AM

Hi Jack
I just had a listen to your song-
"Comes the Revolution" is a great song with insight beyond the years!
Wish you all the best my friend....june
and that pic of you is still the best I've seen...LOL
Matt





May 2 2009 12:03 AM

Hey Jack

Your track is up on my site. I know its taken a while and it was one take so it has mistakes etc, but hey....its the blues. Hope you like it. Keep well.

Cheers
Matt
Terry Blankley





May 1 2009 2:23 PM

Hey Jack soundin' great.
T.
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