The Hughes Smith Quintet (HSQ) is a Detroit-based jazz quintet that performs original music with purpose. The group is spearheaded by Saxophonist James Hughes & trumpeter Jimmy Smith and features the rhythm section of Phil Kelly, Takashi Iio and Nate Winn. The quintet formed in the autumn of 2012 with the purpose of promoting their...Read More
The Yao Smith Hughes Sextet brings a fresh, new set of original compositions following in the footsteps of the straight-ahead jazz tradition of Detroit. Hard-bopping melodies, tight 3-horn arrangements, colorful voicings, driving swing feel and soulful grooves are all trademarks of The Gates. Trumpeter Jimmy Smith and saxophonist James Hughes of Detroit are joined by...Read More
A Hard-Bop sextet featuring both veterans and up-and-coming artists of Detroit’s historic jazz scene, FREIGHT TRAIN is sure to charge through Cliff Bell’s on July 20th with a frenzy of kinetic energy and momentum. Led by Michigan State Jazz Studies graduate Ryan Freitas, the program will include equal amounts original music and reinterpretations of standard...Read More
Detroit was once a vital jazz center, contributing some of the major hard bop artists of the 1960s: Hank, Thad, and Elvin Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, and Ron Carter, just to name a few. The James Hughes & Jimmy Smith Quintet honors that tradition by playing mostly original hard bop...Read More
Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”, an award for outstanding musicianship, as well as the...Read More
Scott Gwinnell is an award-winning pianist, composer/arranger, and educator born in Detroit, and residing in the Metro-Detroit area. He currently freelances as a sideman and leads various groups; the most well-known being the 16-piece Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra. He is an adjunct professor of music at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and an ensemble director...Read More
