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Lavay Smith
And
Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
(Lavay Smith Website)
Lavay Smith on Vocals
Chris Siebert on Piano and Bandleader
Jules Broussard on Saxophone
Herman Riley on Saxophone
Danny Armstrong on Trombone
Bill Ortiz on Trumpet
Bing Nathan on Bass
Mark Lee on Drums
At
Frederick P. Rose Hall
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Broadway at 60th Street
NY, NY
212.258.9595
(Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Website)
Todd Barkan, Artistic Administrator
Scott Thompson, Press
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
July 16, 2007
(See a Review of Lavay Smith’s CD).
What a coup for Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola to introduce Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers to its New York fans. It’s so hard to find a new, truly talented vocalist, and Lavay Smith is truly talented, with persona, pizzazz, and passion. Her band backed her up with sumptuous sound and bright rhythms, as she shifted styles from New Orleans, to Kansas City, to Chicago, to New York. I reviewed her CD and then sent it to my father, who loves this kind of Swing.
Ms. Smith alternated with her trumpet player in Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? and It Don’t Mean a Thing, If It Ain’t Got that Swing. Chris Siebert rolled his piano into the trombone riff, a soulful solo, followed by all-brass flourishes and muted trombone. The saxophone belted out the next piece, as the sultry Ms. Smith watched over her band in her black strapless dress. Big Fine Daddy was enhanced with trumpets and flair, and the saxophone embellished the sound. A Kansas City tribute brought the versatile Chris Siebert into energetic piano rolls, and the Club clapped in rhythm. The repetitive sax riffs were infectious. A slower, bluesy tune followed, and Walk Right In brought the house down with extensive excitement.
A sax duo with trombone and vocals was followed by a rhythm section feature, On the Sunny Side of the Street, with drums and bass in full force. Soon the entire band sang one refrain with Ms. Smith, and All of Me had Ms. Smith holding each syllable endlessly. Siebert changed keys after a brass infusion, a nice touch. A New Orleans mood ensued with When the Saints Go Marching In, bringing the brass players to their feet. Both tenor and alto saxes, plus trombone, transported the crowd to the Big Easy. Lavay Smith and her band are worth looking for. Check Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Website for current and upcoming listings.
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Appel/Jazz at Lincoln Center
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Appel/Jazz at Lincoln Center
Lavay Smith at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gift Shop
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Chris Siebert at the Bar
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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