MP3 Rich Smith - 3rd Street Improv

Live solo electronic piano: neoclassical is the main style (with many variations - styles within the style), but also covered are: jazz, blues, ragtime, art rock, world, & new age.

10 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Contemporary, NEW AGE: New Age



Details:
3RD STREET IMPROV

Rich Smith's third CD, "3rd Street Improv," is a live solo electronic piano album performed and produced by Rich Smith. It's a collection of improvisations recorded directly from Rich's live performances at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. The recordings were made during the summer of 2000, except for "Angels Sing," which was recorded on Halloween night in 1999. It covers the full spectrum of styles improvised by Rich during that time: neoclassical is the main style (with many variations - styles within the style), but also covered are: jazz, blues, ragtime, art rock, world, & new age.

CD cover photo by Maki Komura
Album graphic design by Scott A. Crutcher / www.axisi.com
Additional album photos by Toni Zeto and Marc Antony Pickering not shown on this page

Electrifying, inspirational, cinematic, romantic, passionate, healing, joyful, fun, spontaneous, soulful....

Recording method:
Direct to digital, mostly at 48KHz; "Angels Sing" was recorded to analog, then converted to 48KHz digital. No microphones were used, so you won't be able to hear any background noises on the CD.

Release date: April 21, 2001

TRACK LISTING:

1. Romance 9:10
2. E Flat Jazz 8:04
3. Passion 11:07
4. F Blues 7:19
5. For Lovers 5:05
6. Let's Just Have Fun ! 7:41
7. Sharing Stories 3:29
8. The Dancer 10:28
9. Song to Heaven 7:26
10. Angels Sing 2:58

CD total playing time: 73:12

All tracks P & © 2000 Rich Smith / Rich Smith Music (ASCAP) except track 10: P & © 1999 Rich Smith / Rich Smith Music (ASCAP)

REVIEWS:

'Beautiful music, diverse, passionate, original, masterfully played, innovative, very visual and cinematic. Inspiring and uplifting to the soul. You get wrapped up in it and it carries you on.'
Christine Katzenmaier, Soprano

'Rich Smith's improvisational skills are absolutely mesmerizing...he takes you on an unforeseen and unexpected journey into a sound world that runs the gamut from classical to jazz to the more popular vein. Listening to Rich is a joy.'
Steve Linder, Manager, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

'"3rd St. Improv" not only again displays Rich Smith's "great" skills as a Composer and a Musician, but also brings out emotions, feelings... energy! ..... my absolute favorites are: #1 "For Lovers" (Very filled with feeling, romantic... I feel a touch of sadness in it!). #2 "The Dancer" (A sad, beautiful melody at first... filled later with different moods... some of them very energizing!). I also love the last 'passage' of "Romance".... and of course, Rich shows what he can really do with a 'Pianoforte' in "Let's Just Have Fun !".... "BRAVO", "BRAVISSIMO"!!!!'
Liviana dall'Italia

RICH SMITH

Rich Smith has enchanted audiences with his impressive piano and vocal performances since the age of 6. His effortless, improvisational style of playing and his passion for music are currently drawing much attention. His repertoire is varied and extensive, including classical, jazz, blues, new age, traditional, and original songs and compositions. His solo piano CD's, THE GIANT FOREST, PIANO SAMPLER WITH A RICH TWIST, 3rd STREET IMPROV, and AUGUST SKY, have received much critical acclaim.

Rich grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1989. It was during this time that he won the AF's Worldwide Talent Competition and was selected to become a pianist for the Air Force's renowned "Tops in Blue", performing with Bob Hope and receiving standing ovations all over the world. This international tour included shows in the United States, Italy, Japan, Germany, Greece, Spain, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Upon honorary completion of his four year enlistment, Rich attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He graduated in 1996 and moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue his career as a performer and composer. Since that time, he has written several musical scores, including the soundtrack for the independent film, LOAVES. Excerpts from his music have been featured in several television commercials.

Rich's talents are extensive. As an instrumentalist he plays piano, keyboards, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, and electric bass. The sounds of his piano music have graced such clients as the Producers Guild of America, Premiere Radio Networks, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. He owns and operates his own recording studio, which was designed by him. He tunes and maintains his own concert grand pianos, and client pianos. Rich has provided services for recordings of acclaimed session pianists Terry Trotter (Natalie Cole, "Everybody Loves Raymond"), Ron Feuer (Ernie Watts, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Gary Burton), George Cables (Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn), Tamir Hendelman (Jeff Hamilton Trio), Mark Le Vang (Frank Marocco, Tony Galla), and others. With a creative eye for art passed on from his talented and successful mother, Lee Gorman Smith, Rich is also a graphic designer for his own projects and for many independent fellow musicians including Ron Sorensen produced by Charles Floyd (conductor of over 500 orchestras with such artists as K.D. Lang and Patti LaBelle). When Rich is not at work composing, recording, designing or tuning, he can often be seen performing in the Los Angeles area, trying out new material on unsuspecting crowds.

Rich was quoted in the LA Times by Joseph Hanania: "My soul feels like a freight train, pushing me to do the music.... There are some things I don't have to question, I just know. Music is one of them. Even if I lost my hands, I'd find a way to play."

QUOTES ABOUT RICH SMITH

'From the first time I watched Rich Smith perform, it's so memorable and unforgettable that the impact lasted. It's like when you see a movie and it stays with you for a lifetime. His music possesses a very strong sense of melodic flow, though improvised, as if it was played many times before. I've never seen anything like it. It's soaring, mesmerizing, amazing!'
Guy Marshall, Los Angeles Producer

'Rich Smith is an exemplary pianist/composer whose music excites me with every stroke of the keys. His music is varied and wonderful. Go see him!'
Mark Ferber, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

'Rich Smith has the ability to move audiences with his improvisations like I've never seen before!'
Paul Tavenner, Los Angeles Producer