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Describing himself as ‘a practical scholar’, Birmingham-born Fraser Smith picked up the saxophone aged 15. Drawn to the music from the golden age of jazz associated with Kansas City in the 40’s to New York in the 60’s, Fraser honed his craft on the bandstand, playing from 25-300 gigs a year at top venues in the UK and abroad. His new album, ‘Tip Top’ released in April 2023 on prestige label Ubuntu Music, embraces that swinging, mainstream big tenor sound refreshed for modern day. His quartet includes the sought-after pianist Rob Barron (Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Marlena Shaw), along with Simon Read-bass and Steve Brown-drums. This is feel good music, played with style and verve!
"Nonchalantly confident and very hard swinging" London Jazz News; "Original tunes which take the virtues of 50s and 60s hard bop and soul jazz and infuse them with a youthful enthusiasm born of the 21st century." The Jazz Mann; “An All-Star outfit” Jazz FM