Brian Smith plays Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Concert, Alto and Bass Flute, and also Clarinet. Brian Smith started to make his mark in Auckland, New Zealand in 1958.  Apart from a stint in Australia working on the Gold Coast for two years, he established himself as an in demand tenor player backing local and touring musicians. He moved to London in 1964, performing at Ronnie Scott's and working and touring with the likes of Humphrey Littleton, Alexis Korner, T-Bone Walker, Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Annie Ross, Bing Crosby, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, John Dankworth, Gordon Beck and Tubby Hayes.

In 1969 he started working in the Maynard Ferguson band, staying with them until 1975 touring and recording. Brian Smith pictured at right with Maynard Ferguson (left in picture, that's Brian Smith on the right) in London 1972. Click for larger picture.

Brian was a founding member of "Nucleus" which won the European Band competition in Montreaux in 1970, resulting in gigs at Newport Jazz Festival and tours of Italy, Germany, Holland and America.

He recorded ten albums with Nucleus.

 

 

He also backed acts like Nancy Wilson, The Small Faces, Eartha Kitt, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Donovan, Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Shew, John Scofield, Sandy Shaw and Lulu. Brian returned to New Zealand in 1982 and has since been kept busy recording, writing and performing on tours with a huge list of top national and international stars. He remains one of New Zealand's most sought after musicians.
Right: One of the many bands Brian has played in BILLBOARD, mid 1980s, resident band at Club 21, under the Civic in Auckland. Line-up left to right: Ian Fraser (drums), Geoff Castle (keyboards), Billy Kristian (bass), Martin Winch (guitar), Beaver (vocals) and Brian Smith (saxophone).

Brian Smith recorded two albums 1990 and 1991 respectively which went became Platinum Selling in New Zealand, Moonlight Sax reached #1 on the album charts and Moonlight Sax Two reached #2.  The Moonlight Sax Collection CD - a compilation of both Platinum Selling CD's Moonlight Sax and Moonlight Sax Two ( Sony Music/Thom Marketing 1995).

Film and TV soundtracks include Came a Hot Friday, Shaker Run, Gloss, Plainclothes, Frontline and numerous commercials. Brian Smith was declared "a national treasure" by Metro Magazine (New Zealand) in an article about his career. Brian Smith is available for Jazz Festivals (world-wide), private functions, weddings, cocktail parties and other occasions with his jazz group. Brian Smith can be contacted by phone (09)428-1975 or email bsjazz@ezysurf.co.nz  Brian Smith lives in Whangaparaoa (half an hour north of Auckland, New Zealand) with his wife Irene.

Mike Nock

Ransom Wines, Warkworth, New Zealand

Kiwi Arranger, living in the USA, Alan Broadbent

Geoff Castle

Ian Carr, Musician, and amongst other things, biographer of Miles Davis

Guitarist Martin Winch

Bands for Hire, Website of Auckland Musician Pete McGregor

New Zealand Pop Music History (online in Australia)

Maynard Fergusson Website