Saxophonist Fraser Smith has performed across the world, and has played at The Bear before with one of his other projects, Fraser & The Alibis. He is a regular at some of London’s leading clubs and has brought his own band to Ronnie Scott’s on numerous occasions. He’s now signed to the esteemed UK jazz label Ubuntu Music who will be releasing his new album TipTop! in April 2023.
A working musician, Fraser has cut his teeth and paid his dues on the London scene over the last decade and a half. With a focus on swing and the straight ahead, he channels the sound and language of the big tenor men. His music harks back to the golden ages of jazz, from 40s Kansas City through to 60s New York.
Born in Birmingham and raised between the Midlands and Wales, Fraser first picked up the sax at the age of fifteen. He came across the music of Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong and Ike Quebec via the Woolworth's bargain bucket, and after studying hundreds of these solos, now considers himself a 'practical scholar' - bringing these sounds of a bygone era to a modern stage.
Featuring Fraser Smith (tenor sax), Rob Barron (piano), Steve Brown (drums) and Simon Read (bass).
“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”
“An ‘all star’ outfit”
“Smith wallows in that funky Gene Ammons/Ike Quebec sound”
Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm / Tickets £15 / £9 for members
All seating/tables are first come first served.