Are you one of those swinging cats who listen to Ella Fitzgerald or John Coltrane? Do you stay up all night in coffee shops reading, listening to jazz and sipping on chai? Does Benny Goodman strike your fancy?
If any of this applies to you, get ready for an opportunity to “boogie-woogie.”
The First Annual Highlands Jazz Festival will premiere one of music’s greatest performers. This June, Abingdon, Va., proudly presents Derek Smith.
One of jazz’s greatest, he started his career at the age of 14. He was hired to play piano for a V-E Day celebration. After many conflicts with his parents, he joined John Dankworth’s band, when Cleo Lame was the female vocalist.
Then, he began performing and recording for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). But it was not long before Smith realized America was his destiny.
After living in America for only 14 days, Smith began recording with the Modern Jazz Quartet in New York City. He worked with Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald as a trio at Basin Street East in New York.
Then in 1961 he teamed up with Benny Goodman, and released the album Benny Goodman, The Swing Era, released by Time/Life Records.
After friend Doc Severinsen was named leader of the NBC Orchestra on the Tonight Show, Smith was called to be the pianist. The orchestra played together for seven glorious years while Smith continued recording with Benny Goodman. Smith opted to stay in New York to further his career as a musician.
After the Tonight Show, Smith led his own band on NBC’s Musical Chairs. After the show was canceled, he gave his undivided attention to album Love For Sale. The album received a Grammy award in 1989.
Smith has worked on other albums over the years with Burt Bacharach and Diane Warwick as well as Steve Lawerence and Eydie Gorme, as well as many other popular performers.
His work has also been on soundtrack recordings from movies Hannah and Her Sister and Crimes and Misdemeanors, both by Woody Allen.
His sultry sound can also be heard on Martin Scorsese’s Age of Innocence.
The famous Smith is described as “fiery and passionate” from critics around the world.
The Charles Goodwin Quartet, Big Band and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra will also be performing at the festival. The Appalachian State University Jazz Quartet, aka Jack White and Friends will also be there to entertain jazz lovers.
The festival is scheduled for June 1-2 at the Grand Hall of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
Tickets are $25 for each session and $75 to see the entire festival.
Food and beverages will be for sale.
For ticket information, call toll-free 1-888-489-4230.

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