Pianist Derek Smith, 1931-2016

[duaneiac]

Pianist Derek Smith is the latest to leave us this month.  The British born pianist moved to the US and for many years in the 1960's was the pianist in NBC's The Tonight Show band when that program was based in NYC.  As a leader or sideman he recorded with such notables as Dick Hyman, Scott Hamilton, Milt Hinton, Jack Wilkins, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry and Buddy DeFranco.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=181137152

Edited August 24, 2016 by duaneiac

[paul secor]

I heard him accompanying the Copasetics 30-35 years ago.

[HutchFan]

Sad news. I've enjoyed his music for many years.

R.I.P.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Most memorable for me as the pianist on Nick Brignola's "Baritone Madness". Hard to believe that he was 85.

[Hardbopjazz]

R.I.P.

[six string]

7 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

Most memorable for me as the pianist on Nick Brignola's "Baritone Madness". Hard to believe that he was 85.

I knew that name rang a bell.  I'll have to pull that one out for tonght.

[JohnS]

Sad news.  I don't have much by him  but he always sounded fine.

[sidewinder]

By odd coincidence there is an interview with him published in this month's Jazz Journal International.

[Justin V]

I remember enjoying his playing on a Dick Meldonian LP, and I just picked up his The Man I Love (with Meldonian, Scott Hamilton, George Mraz and Billy Hart) a few months ago.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Smith, and rest in peace.

[Peter Friedman]

"The Man I Love"session on Progressive is a very good one. I am not home so am unable to check, but do not believe that Dick Meldonian was on that date.

[HutchFan]

1 hour ago, Peter Friedman said:

"The Man I Love"session on Progressive is a very good one. I am not home so am unable to check, but do not believe that Dick Meldonian was on that date.

You're right, Peter. The Man I Love recording released under Smith's leadership doesn't include Meldonian. (I have the LP right here with me.)  Its a quartet date with Scott Hamilton, George Mraz, and Bill Hart.

Incidentally, The Man I Love is my favorite Derek Smith record.

Some other fine examples of Smith in a sideman's role:  Buddy DeFranco's Like Someone in Love and Arnett Cobb's Arnett Cobb is Back -- both released on Progressive.

Edited August 27, 2016 by HutchFan

[Justin V]

11 hours ago, HutchFan said:

You're right, Peter. The Man I Love recording released under Smith's leadership doesn't include Meldonian. (I have the LP right here with me.)  Its a quartet date with Scott Hamilton, George Mraz, and Bill Hart.

Incidentally, The Man I Love is my favorite Derek Smith record.

Some other fine examples of Smith in a sideman's role:  Buddy DeFranco's Like Someone in Love and Arnett Cobb's Arnett Cobb is Back -- both released on Progressive.

Dick Meldonian is on the CD's bonus cut, 'Jumpin' at the Woodside'.  I don't have many Progressive dates, but it seems that they like to release CD-only bonus tracks.

[HutchFan]

2 hours ago, Justin V said:

Dick Meldonian is on the CD's bonus cut, 'Jumpin' at the Woodside'.  I don't have many Progressive dates, but it seems that they like to release CD-only bonus tracks.

Ah. That makes sense.

[Peter Friedman]

I must have an earlier CD release because it does not have that bonus track with Meldonian.