[Dixielandjazz] Talented Pianist Paul Smith dies at 91

[J McClernan]

Wasn't Paul Smith the guy who recorded the album, "The Best of Irving Garner"?
Les Muscutt gave me that years ago and I laughed so hard the tears ran down my leg.
Cheers,
John



On Jul 2, 2013, at 1:44 PM, Marek Boym wrote:

A friend of mine admired Paul Smith.  He wrote Paul Smith a letter telling
him about it, and received a bunch of LPs by return mai.
Indeed, an excellent pianist and, judging by the above gesture, a very
gracious person.
He may be gone, but his music lives on.
Cheers


On 2 July 2013 19:01, Norman Vickers <nvickers1 at cox.net> wrote:

> To:  DJML and Musicians and Jazzfans list****
> 
> From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola****
> 
> ** **
> 
> This obituary from 7-1-13 Los Angeles Times.  Paul was a regular at Dick
> Gibson’s jazz parties when I attended 85-93.  We had him at Jazz Society of
> Pensacola on a couple of occasions. I’d watch for his appearances on the
> East Coast of Florida and then entice him to stop by Pensacola on the way
> home.  We’d schedule a special event for him.  Always, I  would need to
> find a tennis partner for him on his visit.  His major “sin” was drinking
> diet Cokes.  He neither smoked or drank.  Said he’d watched so many of his
> colleagues die from smoking, alcohol or drugs that he completely abstained.
> ****
> As the obit says, he worked in the movie  studios on West Coast, including
> the piano accompaniment for the Saturday morning cartoons.  When he’d play
> for the Gibson party, he’d frequently work in some appropriate lick to
> illustrate what was happening on the bandstand.****
> 
> When Ella Fitzgerald appeared in Pensacola at the Saenger Theatre in
> concert in 1985, Paul was the pianist.  Other performers were guitarist Joe
> Pass; Joey Barron, drums; and Keeter Betts, bass.  During that event, Ms.
> Fitzgerald featured Joe Pass on solo guitar for some numbers, Smith just
> played the appropriate music to make Ms. Fitzgerald look great.  No solos
> for him on that  session.****

> He will be missed!   I’m glad I knew/heard him.****