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“Imagine if the members of Steely Dan were Midwestern softies instead of New York snots and you’ll begin to grasp this smooth, jazzy pop trio.”

—  Minnesota Monthly —

With a collective résumé that ranges from the proto-grunge Glenrustles, to the retro swing-jazz of the Hothead Fiasco and the Jaztronauts, to country and bluegrass outfits like the Vibrochamps and the Becky Schlegel Band, to Minneapolis rock icons like Chan Poling and Tina Schlieske’s Lola & the Red Hots, its hard to believe the Smarts only consists of three players.

Their debut CD, “A Tribute To” has garnered some critical notice, and the band has spent the last half-year as the house band for Minnesota Public Radio's "In the Loop" program — (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/in_the_loop/) a topical talk/variety show that requires the band to compose and perform a new pop song each month, based on each show’s theme. Topics covered have included such pop-music mainstays as Diplomacy, Voter Apathy and Seasonal Affective Disorder. Though not yet a fixture on the Minneapolis club scene, the Smarts are currently aiming to find a regular venue for their unique, Brill Building influenced brand of catchy, original jazz-pop.