News Story by: Sean O'Bryan Smith
Professional bassist and session musician Sean O’Bryan Smith has already had a career that many musicians long for. Throughout his twenty-plus years of playing, Sean has had the opportunity to perform for thousands of people and share the stage or studio with a number of artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Anna Wilson, Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins, Steve Azar, and Rebecca St. James just to name a few. Now for the next phase of Sean’s musical journey he has taken on the role as recording artist with the release of his first solo CD for Groove Therapy Records “Tapestry.”
Sean’s musical career started in Chattanooga, TN at the age of 12. Sean is the son of jazz/blues singer Bebe Hannon and was raised up in a musical family. By age 15 he had begun playing professionally in Chattanooga’s local jazz scene and after high school moved out to Seattle, Washington to further his musical career. While in Seattle, Sean was actively involved as a teacher and playing locally and in 1991, he returned to Chattanooga. Upon his return Sean returned to the local jazz scene and re-formed the jazz/fusion group Ivory Punch with long-time musical partner Tommy Ogle. With Ivory Punch, Sean had the opportunity to open up for a number of jazz artists including Eddie Palmieri, Fattburger, Kermit Ruffins, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood.
As his musical career grew, Sean relocated to Nashville in 1999 as a professional sideman and Musical Director. In addition to his career as a touring sideman with a number of country artists, he has also been actively involved in Nashville’s jazz scene as bandleader for Transfer Records recording artist Anna Wilson for the last seven years. Since, Sean has also had the opportunity to open for jazz greats Roy Haynes, Jamie Cullum, Kevin Mahogany, and the late Michael Brecker as well as a large number of major label pop and country artists.
Groove Therapy Records release “Tapestry” is a return to Sean’s roots in jazz, blues, and soul. It features him on fretted, multi-string, upright, and fretless basses as well as guitar and keyboards. The CD transcends many musical genres and also reunites Sean with a collection of his favorite fellow sidemen including Jeff ”Skunk” Baxter ( Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers ), Jerry Marotta ( Peter Gabriel, Sarah McLachlan ), Rich Eckhardt ( Toby Keith ), and Ken Rarick ( Madonna, Cher ) as well as some of the Nashville areas greatest unknown players.
The initial responses to “Tapestry” cover the gamut of top radio personalities to legendary musicians and prove why Sean has become one of the most in demand bassists in the industry. Some of the responses are:
“…soulful, melodic, and unpretentious…..” – Bryan Beller, Bass Player Magazine
“Great groove, melodic phrasing, and flow on fretted and fretless…..” – Mark Egan, legendary bassist and solo artist
“……Sean clearly knows his business.” --Benny Brown, Two time winner of Billboard's International Radio Personality of the Year
“..Tapestry is a fine musical statement……… a welcome addition to any CD library.” –Brian Sharples, Bass World Radio
“..’Sweet’ is SWEET!”-- Eric J, The Jazzpel radio show, Smooth Jazz 98.1 KIFM, San Diego, CA
“Great playin' on this, great flow...easy listening to the heart…” –JaiJai Jackson, womanofjazz.com/The Jazz Network
“….he is an 'Artist' that will most definitely 'jazz your azz'!!!" -- Anna Wilson, Transfer Records recording artist
“Tapestry shines with melodic compositions and phenomenal chops worthy of even the most discriminating jazz enthusiasts.”—Rich Eckhardt, guitarist for Toby Keith, solo artist
“Love the music and "Sweet" is SWEET!” --Preston Miles, V1019.com internet radio’s The Preston Miles Live Experience
“…..an outstanding display of songwriting and musicianship….”--Lane Baldwin, Eden Electronics
“… capable of traversing genres, while maintaining his own unique style.” – Lisa Patrick Davis, Accidental Artist Management
“… an artistic perspective that is backed up with amazing musical and technical skills.” – Robin English, Aspirion Records recording artist
“Tapestry” is now available at CDBaby (http://cdbaby.com/cd/seanobryansmith
) and at www.mymusicstream.com ,iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and Rhapsody as well as other fine retailers. Call your local jazz radio station and request Sean O’Bryan Smith.
You can also check out Sean’s freelance writing articles and reviews in Vintage Guitar Magazine, Premier Guitar Magazine, www.geartrap.com, as well as his regular column on Music Business Survival at www.eden-electronics.com . For advance copies and more information on Sean’s news, performances, clinics, articles, and more check out www.myspace.com/seanobryansmith
For more information: Sean's MySpace page
Photo by: © Steve Virginia
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