UPDATED November 20, 2008

 

See also the What's New page for 2004-7 releases and reviews

 

A new album released February 2007 "Taupo" Brian Smith & Friends through Ode Records.  

Brian Smith's latest CD "Taupo" Reviewed on :

www.itsajazzthing.com - week  ended 4th March 2007

Great musicians are technically proficient across the whole range of their instruments of course, but to be a truly outstanding musician they have to play with feeling and soul. Brian Smith is a musician that has the technique nailed, he has fantastic chops, but more than that Brian plays with feeling and soul. I once asked Brian how he played like that, where it came from, Brain laughed and shrugged his shoulders “I don’t know” he said. 

Brian is one of New Zealand's most well know and respected saxophonists. And so he should be. Born in Taranaki Brian moved over to the UK in 1964 where he quickly established his reputation playing with (amongst others) Humphrey Littleton, Alexis Korner, T-Bone walker, Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Annie Ross, Bing Crosby, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, John Dankworth, & Tubby Hayes. It was his work with Nucleus and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band that established Brain as one of the major soloists in jazz.

This CD, on New Zealand’s ODE Records, sees Brian with a band of established NZ musicians and a newcomer on drums. The tunes, arrangements, ensemble playing and solos are 1st class. And on top of all that Brian is a very nice guy too.

Buy it tomorrow - support NZ jazz - listen to a master.

 

Link to Marbecks - Buy it Online

 

Reviewed "The Wire" June 2003 A British sextet formed by trumpeter/flugelhorn player Ian Carr in 1969, Nucleus were articulating their own take on the fusing of jazz and rock before Bitches Brew hit the streets.  The key difference between the British unit and their Stateside contemporaries was their attack, which was markedly less alloyed by jazz practice.  Though the front line of Carr and saxophonist/flautist Brian Smith had considerable jazz experience Nucleus were noticeably, if not painstakingly seeking a rock credibility in their continuous, largely groove-driven sets.  Perhaps the most telling measure of their success is the subsequent recruitment of drummer John Marshall and keyboardist/oboe player Karl Jenkins by Soft Machine.  By the time of this 1971 concert recorded by Radio Bremen, Nucleus had waxed three albums and their concerts were tight as snares on a drum head.  This is not to suggest that Nucleus did not put elements of advanced jazz and free improvisation into the mix.  Though their themes may sound quaint by todays' standards, they had some of the same sly syntax of the tunes Joe Zawinul contributed to the Cannonball Adderley book before he left o join Miles Davis.  Nucleus were also very adept in superheating the materials and controlling the resulting molten sound, particularly Smith, whose work was on a par with the likes of Joe Farrell and Dave Liebman. And they were not shy about venturing into free improvisation, their forays often signalled by Jenkin's oboe.  The Results were sufficiently bristling, as is the case with Jenkin's exchange with Marshall and guitarist Ray Russell opening the second CD. - Bill Shoemaker

Available through www.cuneiformrecords.com

A New Release (2003) fro BBC "The Pretty Redhead " Originally a BBC Transcription Service recording from 1971 in Kensington House. Review: It is not widely known that the style that came to be known as jazz-rock or fusion arose in Britain almost independently of developments in the US. Nucleus, led by trumpeter Ian Carr, were formed in 1969, before any of Miles Davis's pioneering albums in this field had been released here.  The music on this CD, dating from 1971 and 1982, comes from BBC recordings that have not been heard since their original broadcast.  It sounds so fresh and vigorous you can't help wondering how other bands, in later years, managed to reduce this lively idiom to a deadly formula.  The first session here is specially captivating, with Car rand saxophonist Brian Smith in superb Form.  Karl Jenkins, later of Soft Machine, plays spellbinding keyboard.

Available through Hux Records www.huxrecords.com

 

 

Southern Excursion (New Zealand Jazz Record of the year 1984 Ode Records) Brian Smith (Self -Titled  )1986 Ode Records Rendezvous (1988) Ode Records Moonlight Sax (Number 1 on New Zealand Album Charts 1990) Sony Music/Thom Marketing Moonlight Sax 2 (Number 2 on New Zealand Album Charts 1991) Sony Music/Thom Marketing Moonlight Sax Collection (Double CD 1993) Sony Music/Thom Marketing

Brian Smith has recorded numerous albums with many more artists, including ten albums with NUCLEUS which feature many of his own compositions and SPACE CASE, legendary New Zealand jazz fusion  band, see album covers below:

 

 

Click to view larger picture of all album covers 

	"Southern Excursion" 1984 Jazz Album of the Year.  Cover pictured left. Line-up left to right: Billy Kristian, Brian Smith, Geoff Castle and Frank Gibson Jnr "Rendezvous" cover pictured right. Line-up on that album was: Phil Broadhurst (piano), Andy Brown (bass) Billy Kristian (bass guitar) and Frank Gibson Jnr (drums)
	"Awakening" by NUCLEUS Album cover pictured left. Line-up left to right: Ian Carr, Brian Smith, Nick France and Geoff Castle and Chuco Merchan. "Elastic Rock" by NUCLEUS 1970 - album cover pictured right, left to right John Marshall (drums), Jeff Clyne (bass), Karl Jenkins (piano), Chris Spedding (guitar), Ian Carr (trumpet) and Brian Smith.
	Brian Smith also played on two albums with Maynard Ferguson. (Album covers on left and right).

	The Martin Drew Band. Released 1977 by Lee Lambert Records. Album cover pictured left: Top left: John Taylor, Top right: Ron Mathewson, Middle: Martin Drew, Bottom Left: Bill Le Sage, Bottom Right: Brian Smith PACIFIC EARDRUM "Beyond Panic" Released 1978, album back cover right. Line-up left to right across: Isaac Guillory, Joy Yates, Dave MacRae, Brian Smith, Billy Kristian and in front Jeff Seopardie.
	"Parallel 37" Released 1981 (Ode Records) Album cover pictured left. Original Jazz Compositions by New Zealanders including Alan Broadbent, Bruce Johnstone, Julian Lee, Mike Nock, William Southgate & Brian Smith
	SPACE CASE - "Space Case 3" Released 1985. Album cover pictured left. Line-up left to right: Brian Smith, Murray McNabb, Kim Paterson, Andy Brown & Frank Gibson Jnr. Brian Smith Self Titled Album released 1986 Line-up Brian Smith, Phil Broadhurst, Billy Kristian, Frank Gibson, Martin Winch

He recorded Platinum selling album "Moonlight Sax" which reached Number 1 on the album charts as well as "Moonlight Sax 2", which reached No.2 on the album charts in New Zealand and was also platinum 1991 & 1992 respectively.

Pictured right is the CD cover for Moonlight Sax Collection, released through Sony Music/Thom Marketing 1994, a double album, a compilation of Moonlight Sax and Moonlight Sax Two (still available in stores).