Dec 10, 2018
My guest today is Perry Smith, guitarist, activist, and community
builder. Perry grew up in California’s San Francisco Bay area,
listening to folk music and alternative rock, but tells the story
of when he was bitten by the jazz bug at age 11. He loved the
complex, sophisticated jazz chords as well as the freedom of
improvisation that jazz music offered. Perry went to University of
Southern California, to study with jazz legend Joe Diorio. Nine
years ago Perry moved to NYC, where he completed his Masters in
Music at NYU, and became a leader of his own groups and a busy
sideman for local and touring artists.
Perry has a devoted sense of striving, humbled by how much more
there is to learn! His knowledge of what's out there, creates a
wonderful cycle, that keeps him engaged, growing, and expanding as
an artist. Perry honors the origins and history of Jazz music; jazz
was born out of oppression and was an essential outlet for the
discrimination that the African American culture experienced. As an
active player in the NYC jazz scene, Perry hosts a weekly series in
Brooklyn called The Nest Session, where he performs with different
groups of jazz musicians while building community to create a
meaningful social justice forum.
After 4 years of building community, Perry just announced that
Wednesday December 19th will be the final show at The Nest. Come
out and celebrate all that Perry co-created through this venue.
Check out the show notes for links to Perry’s website, to hear his
music, buy his CDs, and see all of his upcoming performances. Enjoy
the podcast!
Links:
www.perrysmithmusic.com
New West Guitar
Group
No
Biggity
The Nest
Brooklyn