E. Doctor Smith's Blog

There have been some exciting to come through San Francisco in 2013; too many to name in this space in fact. Sadly, we've also lost many musical greats, and yet we continue to see and hear some new music emerge, thrilling audiences worldwide, and making spirits dance. Here's a list of some of my personal favorites and musical moments... 10. SFJazz Center Opens San Francisco's newest venue, located on Franklin near City Hall, is the SFJazz Center which opened on January 23rd with "a star-filled line up “consecrating” the stage of the Robert N. Miner Auditorium." Hosted by Bill Cosby, the concert included pianists McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea, saxophonist and long time SFJazz Collective alum Joshua Redman, legendary vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, Esperanza Spalding, Mary Stallings, John Handy, Pete Escovedo, the SFJazz Collective, and the new SFJazz Center Resident Artistic Directors Regina Carter, Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, John Santos and Miguel Zenón among...

Back in 2006, Chesky Records released "Electric", "a blistering set of jazz, blues and classic rock anthems as performed by the pioneer of jazz-rock, Larry Coryell, with veteran 'Return to Forever' drummer Lenny White and former 'Weather Report' bass player Victor Bailey". "Coryell and friends have an all-out blast working their way through a track listing of rock and blues tunes, bending and stretching covers of well-known cuts popularized by Led Zeppelin (Black Dog), and Sly and the Family Stone (Sex Machine), as well as Miles Davis' "So What" (from his seminal Kind of Blue album) and Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" into a rockin' musical adventure. "We tried to straddle the lines between 'jazz', 'rock', 'funk' and 'fusion' and whatever other names people want to put on music," comments Bailey…" This amazing trio would go on to record another album in 2006, "Traff...

"Caught a great gig by E. Doctor Smith (aka today's birthday boy Eric Smith ) at Hotel Utah in SF last night. The master of the Zendrum performed music from his new CD Quantum, along with guitarist Jack Wright and bassist Tom Shiben. Excellent stuff crisscrossing prog, avant, funk and fusion territory. Learn more here: http://edoctorsmith.com/ (and happy birthday dude!)..." Kind words from my friend, Anil Prasad of the incredible musical archive Innerviews. We wrapped up our 2 city, CD release tour at the Hotel Utah Saloon with another long time friend, John Moremen and his Flotation Device, after playing a show Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC a week or so earlier. Great attendance with family, friends and fellow musicians made for some inspiring moments with Jack and Tom...