Last updated: 8 hours ago
A talented alto saxophonist and an arranger/composer who probably wrote "One O'Clock Jump" (although <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a> received the credit), Buster Smith's contributions to jazz are difficult to assess because he was under-recorded throughout his career. <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Charlie Parker</a> often acknowledged Smith's influence on his tone, and the few early recordings of the older altoist do show some similarity (although Bird's style would become much more advanced); <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Parker</a> played in Smith's band in 1937.
Buster Smith was a fixture in Kansas City for the bulk of his most significant years. He was with Walter Page's Blue Devils from 1925-1933 (the band only made two recordings) and <a href="spotify:artist:1bm4KifyNLFa4pjZzulTQU">Bennie Moten</a>'s orchestra during its last period (1933-1935), and co-led the Barons of Rhythm with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>. Unfortunately, he chose not to accompany <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> to New York. When Smith finally went East, he contributed arrangements to several orchestras (including those led by <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>) and had short stints with <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3GAp4nVDIMnsYFZnD9DWSz">Hot Lips Page</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6Tb8e3g4fnkBfCsV1kBK10">Eddie Durham</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1KOfC5pbWnv0RaqzAjSDb9">Snub Mosley</a>. Buster Smith returned first to Kansas City and then finally to Texas for the remainder of his life. He recorded one very obscure (and long out-of-print) Atlantic album in 1959. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Buster Smith was a fixture in Kansas City for the bulk of his most significant years. He was with Walter Page's Blue Devils from 1925-1933 (the band only made two recordings) and <a href="spotify:artist:1bm4KifyNLFa4pjZzulTQU">Bennie Moten</a>'s orchestra during its last period (1933-1935), and co-led the Barons of Rhythm with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>. Unfortunately, he chose not to accompany <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> to New York. When Smith finally went East, he contributed arrangements to several orchestras (including those led by <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>) and had short stints with <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3GAp4nVDIMnsYFZnD9DWSz">Hot Lips Page</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6Tb8e3g4fnkBfCsV1kBK10">Eddie Durham</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1KOfC5pbWnv0RaqzAjSDb9">Snub Mosley</a>. Buster Smith returned first to Kansas City and then finally to Texas for the remainder of his life. He recorded one very obscure (and long out-of-print) Atlantic album in 1959. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Monthly Listeners
9,648
Monthly Listeners History
Track the evolution of monthly listeners over the last 28 days.
Followers
2,119
Followers History
Track the evolution of followers over the last 28 days.
Related Artists
Duke Heitger & His Swing Band
Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra
Mat Najean Jazz Band
Swing Shouters
Jo Jones Trio
Mathieu Najean
