Tommy Smith

Leading Jazz Musician Receives Grammy Award Nomination

Saxophonist/Composer Tommy Smith, one of Scotland’s most revered Jazz musicians, has received a Grammy Award nomination for best jazz improvisation. The work was part of a recording with Miroslav Vitous, Adam Nussbaum and Randy Brecker and will be aired live on CBS from Los Angeles’ Staples Centre on February 8th 2009 at 8pm.

Tommy is best known for his world-wide performances as a solo jazz musician, but is also the Director and driving force behind the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and his own Youth Jazz Orchestra.

A further surprise happened upon Tommy this year, as the birth of his first child Arran Ellis Macloed Smith provided an extra piece of good news this month. According to Tommy, the nomination came as ‘a total surprise’ and although he modestly doesn’t expect a win, he announced that he was ‘really pleased to be nominated; although, nothing can beat seeing your first new born son scream his first call’.

Tune Up

Tommy is performing on a Tune Up tour in November and December 2008, funded by the Scottish Arts Council. The tour will feature Arild Andersen, Tommy Smith and Paolo Vinaccia. Listen to the music of Tommy and Co for yourself by subscribing to the Tune Up podcast - a regularly updated playlist of songs and interviews from the artists performing on the Tune Up programme.

For further information on up and coming tour dates, recordings and Tommy’s full biog, visit www.tommy-smith.co.uk