Nate Smith
Biography
Photo by Tyler Scheerschmidt
Nate Smith is a drummer, composer, & producer from Chesapeake, Virginia. His visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming has led to three GRAMMY® nominations and work with esteemed artists, including: Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones, and Somi. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including everything from jazz to R&B to hip-hop to pop. His latest album, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds (released September 2021 on Edition Records) is the highly anticipated follow up to his 2017 GRAMMY® Award-nominated album, Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere. In recent years, Smith’s viral videos have been viewed by millions of people, underscoring his popularity as one of the most influential drummers of his generation.
Projects
“TBN TRIO”
Takeshi Obayashi (Piano)
Ben Williams (Bass)
Nate Smith (Drums)
Three forerunners of the contemporary music scene join forces creating a brand new music integrating jazz, hip-hop, R&B, black music, rock, pops and the music of today.
Come and experience the incomparable kaleidoscope of rhythm, groove and vibe reflecting the pure joy of music and life.
Takeshi Ohbayashi
As Japan’s premiere pianist in his generation, Takeshi has been establishing his career internationally ever since his graduation from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Based in New York, he has performed at the major jazz clubs and festivals across the globe, winning both the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and DC Jazz Prix in 2016. Takeshi has played internationally with notable musicians such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Jose James, Nate Smith and many others. He is also an in demand collaborator working with leading musicians across genres such as Japanese superstar diva MISIA, classical violinist Mayu Kishima and many more.
Ben Williams
After winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2009, for more than a decade, Ben has steadily become one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. He has performed/recorded with such giants as Pat Metheny, George Benson, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn, Lauryn Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Maxwell, and Nicholas Payton. In 2013 and 2015 Williams received the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Award for Bass.
Nate Smith
For nearly two decades, Nate Smith has been a key piece in reinvigorating the international music scene with his visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming. He holds a diverse and ample résumé — which includes work with esteemed jazz leading lights such as Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, José James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, and Somi among many others. His 2x GRAMMY-nominated debut album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop.