Trumpeter Jumaane Smith to Debut at Metropolitan Room on Oct. 1st, 2014 in Celebration of New CD
LONGTIME MICHAEL BUBLE TRUMPETER AND VOCALIST JUMAANE SMITH MAKES HIS METROPOLITAN ROOM DEBUT OCTOBER 1, CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF HIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM ‘I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU’
Best known to audiences throughout the world as the lead trumpeter for international superstar Michael Buble for the past decade, multi-faceted singer, entertainer and musician Jumaane Smith is set to make his highly anticipated debut at the legendary Metropolitan Room October 1 at 9:30 p.m.
Celebrating the release of his critically acclaimed independent standards-filled debut album I Only Have Eyes For You, Smith’s dynamic 75 minute set will feature material from the recording in addition to new arrangements of classics by Buble, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Joe Williams/Count Basie, adult contemporary hits like “You Are So Beautiful” and R&B tunes like “Just The Way You Are.” The trumpeter’s seven piece band incorporates elements of traditional Dixieland jazz, swing, blues, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and soul.
“I’m very much looking forward to joining these great musicians for my first solo show in Manhattan,” says Smith, whose collaborations range from pop idols to jazz legends, including Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, Wyclef Jean, Diddy, Natalie Cole, James Ingram, Wynton Marsalis Ravi Coltrane, Chris Botti and others.
“The Metropolitan Room is a prestigious, intimate venue which is perfect for my show and its focus on the sentiment of love and romance. I am most excited to finally be making my debut in NYC after so many years of being a featured guest artist and sideman.”
Executive produced by Smith and produced by Dave Pierce, I Only Have Eyes For You is a lush celebration of the Great American Songbook featuring interpretations of classics full of personal emotion. The collection includes vocal performances by Smith, Buble (the opening track, “Come Rain or Come Shine”), a capella group Naturally 7 (“I Only Have Eyes For You”) and young pop classical sensation Jackie Evancho (“La Vie En Rose”).
One of only 17 musicians (including only four trumpeters) invited to join the inaugural class of Jazz Studies at the Julliard School in 2001, Smith – who trained there for four years on a full scholarship – has appeared on numerous Grammy winning recordings. His musical accomplishments include playing the Grammy Awards show with Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers; recording “As I Am” with Alicia Keys; appearing on the “American Idol” soundtrack, and scoring and performing music for the film “Handsome Harry.”
