Malcolm Earle Smith Five - All Star Band

Malcolm Earle Smith’s explores the work of two pivotal musicians who bridge the early  and modern jazz traditions. A number of songwriters have been attracted by the strong storytelling qualities of the compositions of Charles Mingus and Thelonius Monk.  Mingus wrote lyrics to several of his own tunes -  Joni Mitchell and   Elvis Costello have penned others. Jon Hendricks is one of several singers to have provided words to Monk's quirky compositions, and the pianists'   intriguing titles  have also inspired Malcolm Earle Smith to write some of his own.  Combining his skills as trombonist and vocalist, Malcolm is joined  by a distinguished line-up of players. Together, they celebrate the work of these two jazz giants  in a program which explores  a wide range of musical emotions, combining    words and music in a storytelling,   sometimes topical interpretation.

Malcolm Earle Smith has been a widely respected trombonist, vocalist and educator on the UK scene for over 30 years. Stylistically versatile, he has performed with a variety of artists including Kenny Baker, John Dankworth, Henry Lowther, Liam Noble and Tony Kofi. He has also toured twice with Bryan Ferry, featuring on two of his albums 'As Time Goes By', and 'The Jazz Age'. A distinctive, swinging vocalist with an exciting approach to scat singing, Malcolm’s acclaimed album 'Vocal Intent' was released in 2022. A passionate educator, he has since 2007 been professor on the Trinity Laban Conservatoire jazz course. 

In the 1990s Malcolm was mentored by, and became a friend of Mingus's great trombonist, Jimmy Knepper. On his death in 2003 the family gave him Knepper's horn, - a Vincent Bach 36, which he plays on this project.

Line Up: Malcolm Earle Smith – vocals/trombone, Rachael Cohen - saxophone, Hans Koller – piano, Calum Gourlay  – bass & Gene Calderazzo – drums