The Giacomo Smith Hot Five and Radley College Big Band
About
A celebration of jazz music with the Radley College Big Band and ground-breaking musician, composer and band leader Giacomo Smith.His Hot Five is a nod to Louis Armstrong’s ground-breaking ensemble of the same name recorded way back in 1926. Smith’s ongoing exploration of this period of music is born of a fascination with an era in which genres of blues, ragtime, swing, and Latin music all blurred together into a sincere and barely commercialised artistic expression.
Giacomo’s expertise and passion for this era and aesthetic of music has made him a regular guest on shows from BBC Radio Four, BBC6 and Soho Radio. In 2018 He was personally invited by Wynton Marsalis to perform at the Lincoln Centre for their 30th anniversary gala event.
The band focuses on pre-swing repertoire from Louis Armstrong, WC Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, and Fletcher Henderson. They have sold out shows at London’s Ronnie Scotts and performed at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, were invited to perform at the prestigious Snape Maltings Proms in 2021 and the Duc Des Lombards in Pari, France.
Smith’s career spans a wide range of collaborations, from performances with the Kansas Smitty’s House Band, a collective renowned for its innovative approach to classic jazz, to work with some of the most respected musicians in the jazz world. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Cullum, Bireli Lagrene, China Moses, Joe Lovano, Guy Barker, Julian Bliss and many others. In addition to his career as a performer, he has produced albums for Jamie Cullum, Damian Lewis, Zara McFarlane, Jas Kayser, and Joe Stilgoe. His versatility allows him to seamlessly blend the virtuosic techniques of earlier jazz traditions with modern sensibilities, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Smith is an active educator and composer, contributing original works to the jazz canon and mentoring the next generation of musicians. He teaches at London’s Royal Academy of Music and at Django in June in Northampton, MA.
Giacomo Smith is a Selmer artist.
“Giacomo is an utterly inspiring presence to be around. As a collaborator, producer or musician he brings with him a deep knowledge and love of the roots of music whilst also retaining a love and enthusiasm for the modern musical landscape. It’s a rare and dynamite combination.” Jamie Cullum
Location
Silk Hall at Radley College
Radley College, Kennington Road, Radley, Oxfordshire OX14 2HR
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The Giacomo Smith Hot Five and Radley College Big Band
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