Best known to audiences throughout the world as the lead trumpeter for international superstar Michael Buble for the past decade, multi-faceted singer, entertainer and musician Jumaane Smith made his highly anticipated début at the well-known Metropolitan Room on October 1, 2014.
Celebrating the release of his critically acclaimed independent standards-filled début album I Only Have Eyes For You, Smith’s dynamic 75 minute set featured material from the recording in addition to new arrangements of classics by Buble, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Joe Williams/Count Basie, adult contemporary hits like You Are So Beautiful and R&B tunes like Just The Way You Are. The trumpeter’s seven piece band incorporates elements of traditional Dixieland jazz, swing, blues, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and soul. His sound is so cool!
CD release party for I Only Have Eyes For You in place for November 28th, 2014 at Joe’s Pub – NYC – 7:30 PM.
“I’m very much looking forward to joining these great musicians for my first solo show in Manhattan,” says Smith, whose collaborations range from pop idols to jazz legends, including Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, Wyclef Jean, Diddy, Natalie Cole, James Ingram, Wynton Marsalis Ravi Coltrane, Chris Botti and others. The
Metropolitan Room is a prestigious, intimate venue which is perfect for my show and its focus, the sentiment of love and romance. I am most excited to finally be making my first appearance in NYC after so many years of being a featured guest artist and sideman.”
Executive produced by Smith and produced by Dave Pierce, I Only Have Eyes For You is a lush celebration of the Great American Songbook featuring interpretations of classics full of personal emotion. The collection includes vocal performances by Smith; Buble’s impeccable styling on Come Rain or Come Shine, the A Capella group Naturally 7 put their spin on I Only Have Eyes For You, and pop classical sensation Jackie Evancho [America Got talent] sassy delivery of La Vie En Rose. Got to give shayna Steele her props. She owned Please Send Me Someone to Love, the perfect pairing of song and vocalist!
Sandy Shore, president of SmoothJazz.com global radio, says of the collection that it’s “an instant essential album, one that is definitive and timeless, a jazz recording appealing to a wide audience of music enthusiast with cool, classic sensibilities…This is a must have…delightfully pleasing to the ears!”
Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal echoes these words, calling Smith a “terrific trumpeter.”
One of 17 musicians (including four trumpeters) invited to join the inaugural class of Jazz Studies at the Julliard School in 2001; Smith, trained there for four years on a full scholarship, has appeared on many Grammy winning recordings. His musical accomplishments include playing the Grammy Awards show with Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers; recording “As I Am” with Alicia Keys; appearing on the “American Idol” soundtrack, and scoring and performing music for the film “Handsome Harry.”
“This young man and his horn is pure entertainment. He along with his band of talented musicians and vocalists seamlessly crossed music genres weaving a musical collective that is sure to satisfy the taste of the most discriminating jazz digger’s palate. I Only Have Eyes For You is cool, smooth and will definitely put you in a mellow mood.”… ABYSSJazz
Available at Amazon; check it out!