Guitar virtuoso Richard Smith is a member of celebrated troupe the Transatlantic Guitar Trio, but he’s also an accomplished solo musician. He’s no stranger to Boulevard Music, and he’s back this week. Smith spoke to the News about what we can expect…
When did you start playing and performing?
I started playing when I was five years old. My first performance was probably a school thing a couple years after that, but I didn’t really start playing out until I was in my early teens, and then I went part-time when I was in my late teens and early 20s.
Describe your sound/style?
I’m a finger picker! That basically means you’re playing like a one-man band where your thumb is playing the rhythm or base, and your fingers are playing the melodies. Occasionally, I’ll break out into single line solos where it is in the heads of the audience as to what the rhythm section might be doing… but mostly finger style is a pianistic style. I’ll do anything from old ragtime tunes to pop of the ‘30s and ‘40s to the ‘60s. What I do has certainly been informed by the likes of Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt and various classical guitar repertoire.
What are your career highlights so far?
Every gig is a highlight in the moment, but the Thumb Picker of the Year award was great. Playing with any of my big music influences, like playing with Chet. Some other favorites such as Sam Bush, Tommy Emmanuel, Bireli Lagrene. Those are more personal highlights than career highlights I guess. Playing festivals like Winfield and Copper Mountain were milestones for sure.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
All three solo albums – Requests, Slim Pickin’, and One Man Roadshow, plus the duet records I did with my cellist wife Julie Adams, the two trio records I’ve done with Rory Hoffman and Joscho Stephan, and the duet I did with my fiddling buddy Aaron Till. [All are available] on the website.
Have you performed at Boulevard Music before?
Oh yes. Every year since 1998 except the pandemic years. I recorded a duet album there with my good friend Jim Nichols. That’s a rare one! Great fun, as well as the duo shows I played there with my wife and the Transatlantic trio show I have done with Joscho and Rory.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
I guess that depends how I might feel on the day, but some Beatles tunes, a little sing-along here and there, some classical repertoire, some pop. Plenty of thumbpicking and standards. I’ll explain what I’m doing also. I find that helps with anyone who might be there who is a general music fan, but not necessarily a finger picking connoisseur. I’ll keep it light and not too serious. It’s all about having fun.
What else do you have coming up?
I’m currently up in Oregon. It will be playing in Washington, Montana, North Dakota before coming back to Southern California and then heading back across to Tennessee and gigging on the way through Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Memphis is the last gig before I get to spend 10 days at home before going to Colorado to teach at the Rocky Mountain guitar camp that I have done every year for the last 10 years.
Richard Smith performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 5 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information about the show, or richardsmithmusic.com for more about the artist.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Black Sage Burn, Head Space, Jetpack, and Coyote Moon. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.