Jay Smith Group

From All About Jazz
"Smith possesses an active mind as the program boasts a cornucopia of bop, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, rock, pulsating cadences and explosive flights of fancy. At times Smith executes flashy runs while toggling between acoustic and electric keys and props up the interest or listenability factor by alternating tempos and bouncing between various mini-motifs within a given theme. Moreover, the crystalline audio soundscape enhances the band's presentation at most all levels of interplay."

From Valley Public Radio
"Bakersfield-based jazz pianist Jay Smith is a fixture in the south valley music scene. In addition to playing with the acclaimed band Mento Buru he also leads his own band "The Jay Smith Group."

From the Bakersfield Jazz Festival
"“Bakersfield based jazz pianist Jay Smith is a fixture in the south valley music scene. Jay's known for putting on one heck of a show and after seeing his performance you'll understand why. He believes in what he does and his success is proof that if you put everything you have into something, it will be great. And maybe great is an understatement. There's no question our Bakersfield boys "can hang with the heavies", enjoy!”"

From the Fresno Bee
“Smith is well-known in the local jazz scene. The keyboardist lived in town and studied at Fresno City College under Mike Dana and the late Andre Bush (who played on Smith’s first album). He also hosts a weekly radio show on KFSR (FM 90.7), the “Jay Smith Piano Hour.” He’s a jazz guy, but he isn’t tied to the genre. Along with his solo work, he has a gig recording and touring with the Latin reggae ska band Mento Buro. His Jay Smith Group recently played house band to 20 rappers at a hip-hop show in Bakersfield. It’s that kind of musical diversity he looks for in collaborators.”

From the Visalia Times Delta
“Although members have changed over the years, the identity of the Jay Smith Group has remained steady over the past 8 years. Saturday's show includes Fernando Montoya, James Russell, Lamar Brooks, and Marlon Mackey. Jay Smith has always remained center circle. "Up until the release of this record I considered myself the main driving force," he said. "The Central Valley has so many great players and a lot of them are in demand. The nice thing is there are these phases that whenever you can get them to play it's really a homecoming of sorts."”

From the CSUB Runner
““They’re blazingly technical, but always fun. Jay’s very passionate, as anyone who’s watched him play knows, and he’s an outstanding player with incredible musical flexibility,” said Zack Clark, 23, a music education major at California State University, Bakersfield.”

Jay Smith has performed with dozens of
groups all over the US and Europe in a wide range of
music from bebop and jazz fusion to latin rock and funk.
He has worked or opened up for groups and musicians as
Carl Saunders, Poncho Sanchez, Jeff Coffin,
Allan Holdsworth, Malo, Ozomatli, Clayton Cameron, Kelulu,
Mento Buru, The Fresno Philharmonic,
David Baron Stevens, Andre Bush, Mike Dana,
Velorio, Zambra, and Patrick Contreras to name a few.

His current projects include Mento Buru which was
voted best band of 2012 by Bakersfield Magazine and
The Jay Smith Trio/Group which features a variety of
players including Cesareo Garasa, James Russell, Jay Jay Hicks,
Fernando Montoya and Patrick Contreras.

He has been on several radio stations and
TV stations including Bakersfield's Channels
17, 23, 29/58, The Michael Nayt Show,
Brighthouse Networks, and (link hidden) FM
KRAB, Fresno's (link hidden) KSFR where he currently
has his own radio show.
Two of his bands (Jay Smith Trio/Group and
Kelulu) are selected as Featured Artists on
the Global Level on (link hidden) He
was the lead instructor at the Bakersfield
Jazz Workshop for first four years. He's been teaching
at Nick Rail Music Bakersfield since the store opened in 2009.

Stage Plot is available on request.