If someone was the pupil of a master like Dave Holland and has also played with the likes of Betty Carter, Pat Metheny and Chris Potter, you can expect them to make their way in the world of jazz. Nate Smith has not taken a simple road, however. One of the songs he wrote when he was younger was performed by Michael Jackson, and Smith could easily have gone in the direction of soul pop, too. Instead, Smith has chosen a path between the two, creating his very own sound using funk and soul-jazz influences. While Smith's first major solo album, KINFOLK: Postcards From Everywhere, immediately earned him a Grammy nomination, by that time people were already lining up to perform with him thanks to his distinctive drumming style. While Smith has regularly worked alongside the neo-soul jazz rapper José James, you can also hear his drumming on the Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard's highly successful 2019 debut solo album. On the pop music scene, in addition to working alongside Paul Simon, Smith also performs in the fun funk band side project, Vulfpack, is the drummer for the Fearless Flyers and also played drums on a Norah Jones album in 2020. It is no surprise that all those invited were only too happy to appear as a special guest on his latest album, where he explores the happiness of his teenage years through his music. It is sure to make an impact live, too.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest