Giacomo Smith's "Smitty's Big Four"

8:30pm This swinging four-piece band, styled as the "feisty little brother" of 606 regulars the “Kansas Smitty's House Band”, is led by expatriate American saxophonist and clarinettist Giacomo Smith. Although relatively new to the UK, Giacomo has already made quite an impact on the swing scene as a fluent and authentic clarinet player, as well as an excellent modern jazz saxophonist. The band tonight will focus predominantly on the music of Sidney Bechet showcasing the 30’s and 40’s upbeat swing style of his home city, New Orleans. The Big Four's unique combination of trumpet (Pete Horsfall), soprano sax/clarinet (Smith), guitar (Dave Archer) and bass (Fergus Ireland), separates the band from traditional Dixieland groups with the omission of drums and piano. As Giacomo explains "This streamlined formation allows the band to navigate New Orleans and swing standards with unparalleled energy and tightness". Although all these players are also well known on the modern jazz scene they are extremely enthusiastic about playing this fun, good time music, which they do extremely well - its guaranteed to be a highly entertaining evening.

“a lively, friendly, swinging, civilized new band playing approachable music…Bandleader clarinettist/sax Giacomo Smith, from the upper reaches of the Hudson in New York…[his] sound and presence are a welcome addition to the London scene…definitely a band to watch out for” LondonJazz News