Jay Smith Group

After about a dozen years in Bakersfield, most of that time spent in music, Smith has become one of the busiest musicians in town, and makes his living purely in his chosen field by performing more than 160 dates a year and giving music lessons at Nick Rail Music to some 50 students, from elementary school age to adults in their 60s. - Bakersfield Californian

“Jay Smith's second album is titled Too Many Notes via comments by his fan base, alluding to his often blazing phraseology on the 88s. Nonetheless, Smith possesses an active mind as the program boasts a cornucopia of bop, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, rock, pulsating cadences and explosive flights of fancy. At times Smith executes flashy runs while toggling between acoustic and electric keys and props up the interest or listenability factor by alternating tempos and bouncing between various mini-motifs within a given theme. Moreover, the crystalline audio soundscape enhances the band's presentation at most all levels of interplay.” - GLENN ASTARITA, All About Jazz (Feb 06, 2015)

“Bakersfield based jazz pianist Jay Smith is a fixture in the south valley music scene. Jay's known for putting on one heck of a show and after seeing his performance you'll understand why. He believes in what he does and his success is proof that if you put everything you have into something, it will be great. And maybe great is an understatement. There's no question our Bakersfield boys "can hang with the heavies", enjoy!” - - Doug Davis,

“Bakersfield-based jazz pianist Jay Smith is a fixture in the south valley music scene. In addition to playing with the acclaimed band Mento Buru he also leads his own band "The Jay Smith Group." Their new cd "Too Many Notes" debuts on Friday with a CD release party at Sandrini's in Bakersfield. Jay recently visited the station for an in-studio performance with violinist Patrick Contreras and to talk about his music and the new album.” - Joe Moore

“Smith is well-known in the local jazz scene. The keyboardist lived in town and studied at Fresno City College under Mike Dana and the late Andre Bush (who played on Smith’s first album). He also hosts a weekly radio show on KFSR (FM 90.7), the “Jay Smith Piano Hour.” He’s a jazz guy, but he isn’t tied to the genre. Along with his solo work, he has a gig recording and touring with the Latin reggae ska band Mento Buro. His Jay Smith Group recently played house band to 20 rappers at a hip-hop show in Bakersfield. It’s that kind of musical diversity he looks for in collaborators.” - - JOSHUA TEHEE, Fresno Bee (Feb 26, 2015)

“Although members have changed over the years, the identity of the Jay Smith Group has remained steady over the past 8 years. Jay Smith has always remained center circle. "Up until the release of this record I considered myself the main driving force," he said. "The Central Valley has so many great players and a lot of them are in demand. The nice thing is there are these phases that whenever you can get them to play it's really a homecoming of sorts."”
- Zachary Newcott, Visalia Times Delta (Jul 17, 2015) - Zachary Newcott

“Jay Smith is the future of fusion.” -

..these guys are an amazingly musical force to be reckoned with, churning around soulful drums, precise keys and a lush walking bass line....this is not your grandmother’s jazz." - Bakotopia Magazine

Jay Smith Trio with Andre Bush at The Padre, 1702 18th St., 7 p.m., Friday, Free, 427-4900.

If you thought jazz goes into hiding after the CSUB Jazz Festival, you're wrong. Wildly energetic keyboardist Jay Smith, who mentors students weekly at the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, has assembled a monster group of players for a special show up on the roof. Joining Smith is Grammy nominated guitarist Andre Bush, whose performing credits include stints with jazz heavyweights Nnenna Freelon, Carl Allen, Andy Narell, Liz Story among others. Also appearing will be Bakersfield bassist Jay Jay Hicks, and drummer Jonathan Weinmann.

Highly recommended. - Bakersfield Californian