Jazz: Fraser Smith Quartet – Tip Top!

Saxophonist Fraser Smith is touring to promote the release of his debut album Tip Top! on the prestigious Ubuntu label, and it’s one of the hardest swinging recordings to land on the Be-Bop desk in quite a while. Two decades of study and scholarship have informed this album of original material. Wholly inspired by the music and artists of the late bebop to early hard bop periods, Fraser pays tribute to his heroes with ten tracks stylistically dedicated to the jazz masters of the mid-twentieth century. Fraser graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with a First and then went on to complete a Masters at Trinity College in London. He has worked professionally for the last 12 years, playing as far away as Mexico, China and everywhere in between with a whole range of projects and bands. He’s led his own group at world-famous Ronnie Scott’s numerous times and is a regular on the UK jazz club scene.

His rhythm section are all London A-listers. Pianist Rob Barron (also an Ubuntu artist) has a top reputation across London and Europe. He has played with Benny Golson, Grant Stewart and Phil Woods to name just a small handful. From Hollywood scores to the most in-demand side man, he’s one of the very best in the music business. The same can be said for Steve Brown, first call drummer for many of the US masters when they’re in town. He was the regular UK drummer for the late jazz legend Barry Harris and has also toured extensively with Scott Hamilton and the Alan Barnes-Bruce Adams Quintet.  Bassist Simon Read is a young player making waves, already playing with some of London’s best improvisers.