Tommy Smith Solo Saxophone

Tommy Smith is one of the world’s leading saxophonists. A presence on the world jazz scene since his teenage years, when he toured internationally with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton’ Whiz Kids quintet, Smith has gone to record with the definitive jazz label, Blue Note and work with myriad jazz greats including Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, John Scofield, Randy Brecker and Jack DeJohnette.

His compositions and work as a soloist extend to the symphonic arena, with albums including Modern Jacobite with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and as the founding director of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra he has built this ensemble into a world class, award-winning big band whose collaborations include tributes to Weather Report, with drummer Peter Erskine, and Frank Sinatra, with Kurt Elling, and new works for jazz orchestra and Japanese taiko drummers.

As well as touring and recording with his long-time duo partner, pianist Brian Kellock, Smith also leads his own quartet, Tommy Smith Quartet: Embodying the Light in dedication to John Coltrane and tours the world with Norwegian double bass master Arild Anderson’s trio, which records for the prestigious ECM label and is widely regarded as one of the leading groups working in jazz today.

Smith’s solo saxophone concerts feature entirely acoustic performances of spontaneously chosen melodies drawn from the jazz and folk traditions and highlight his wonderful tone reproduction and improvising capabilities in an intimate conversation with the audience.

Support is from the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra All-Stars featuring the very best young jazz musicians in Scotland.

Presented by The Queen's Hall and supported by Creative Scotland and Medici Advisors.

Photo by Derek Clark.