Last month, bandleader, composer and virtuosic drummer Nate Smith scored two Grammy Awards for his 2025 jazz album LIVE-ACTION. The recording was named Best Alternative Jazz Album, while the track Big Fish won Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals.
Smith conceived of LIVE-ACTION as a producer-led project in the manner of Quincy Jones. The album features performances from horn players Josh Johnson and Marquis Hill; the rapper JSWISS; guitarists Charlie Hunter and Lionel Loueke; bassists Michael League, Ben Williams, and CARRTOONS; keyboardists DJ Harrison and Keifer; the group säje and vocalist Jermaine Holmes; and Lalah Hathaway.
While this was Smith’s first Grammy win, his track Home Free (For Peter Joe) from the album Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere was nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella, and Best Instrumental Composition in 2017. He also appears on Pathways, a live album by the Dave Holland Octet that was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2011.
Smith was a graduate student in the VCUarts Music Department before leaving to join Holland’s jazz band in 2003. He began his recording career in 2008, first as a solo artist and later with his band, KINFOLK. Throughout his career, he has collaborated and toured with renowned artists like Brittany Howard, Pat Metheny, Ravi Coltrane, Van Hunt, Childish Gambino, Norah Jones, Jon Batiste, Vulfpeck, Lauren Daigle, The Fearless Flyers, Chris Potter, Kiefer, CARRTOONS, Charlie Hunter, and Kurt Elling.
He recently returned to Richmond for a performance at the National with Butcher Brown.
Photo credit: Tyler Scheerschmidt
