| Jazz |
An album that captivates from the very first notes, drawing the listener into a world where the composer and pianist masterfully channels his years of experience into a singular, compelling, and spectacular style. One can already sense the power of its live performance, as the artist’s greatest strength undoubtedly lies in the sheer effectiveness of his arrangements.
Peter served as Associate Music Director for two seasons of The Four on Fox, working directly with contestants alongside musical directors Rickey Minor and Adam Blackstone. He also held this role on Duets—the hit singing competition aired on ABC; where he collaborated with John Beasley as musical director. Over the years, Peter has worked with Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Robin Thicke, and John Legend, supporting them and their contestants during rehearsals and shaping the musical arrangements for the show.
A highly sought-after arranger and musical director across multiple genres, he currently leads Ty Taylor’s project, The Nouveau Mid Century Romance Songbook, which premiered at The Wallis in Los Angeles. Peter is also a co-producer and collaborator (alongside Rob Perkins and Ty Taylor), as well as pianist and arranger for the album of the same name, soon to be released by Universal Music Group. Additionally, he co-created Too Marvelous for Words: A Celebration of Nat “King” Cole, a show in which he performs alongside Keith David.
As a composer, Peter strikes a delicate balance between honoring tradition and embracing modernity. The album’s sound is deeply contemporary yet timeless, as it carries the narrative and poetic quality inherent to jazz pianists, weaving an intricate and evocative thread throughout the record. A seasoned presence on the jazz circuit, he has graced the stages of the Iridium and Birdland (NYC), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Yoshi’s (SF), Blues Alley (DC), the Montreal Jazz Festival, Vector Arena (New Zealand), and the Melbourne Recital Centre (Australia), among many others.
On the Hollywood front, Peter Smith is a familiar name, his compositions having resonated through numerous television series, including The Mindy Project, CSI, Bones, Arrow, BoJack Horseman, Young Sheldon, Benched, Supergirl, Growing Up Fisher, Black Lightning, Pitch, Charmed, and How to Live With Your Parents. His journey is further defined by collaborations on stage and in the studio with an impressive roster of artists: Rickey Minor, Errol Cooney, David Delhomme, Roy McCurdy, John B. Williams, Anthony Wilson, Stephon Harris, Edwin Livingston, Gary Wang, Stevie Wonder, Brenna Whitaker, Laura Mace, Maiya Sykes, Gilbert Castellanos, Melissa Morgan, Janis Mann, Ben Harper, John Beasley, James Tormé, Terron Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Bobby Watson, Dwight Trible, Alexys Schwartz, Michael Beardon, and many more.
All these experiences are vividly reflected in his music, where each piece unfolds like a chapter in a novel, carefully structured with a keen sense of dramaturgy, developing its themes with utmost precision. I was particularly struck by Swagger Waggle—beneath its apparent simplicity lies one of the most intricate compositions of the album. By the end of this journey, the listener is left with a profound sense of joy, tinged with nostalgia and poetry. Smitty Straightens Out stands out as a personal favorite, already etched in my mind as a future classic of the genre.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
Editor for All About Jazz
PARIS-MOVE, March 31st 2025
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Musicians: Aaron Janik, Trevor Ware, Roy Mccurdy, Rickey Woodard