Less than a week after leading his internationally acclaimed Scottish National Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Duke Ellington at sell-out gigs across the country, saxophonist Tommy Smith takes to the road with the band described as his “toughest and most creative group yet”.

Smith is one of Europe’s foremost jazz musicians not only for his sax mastery, but for his influence on his homeland’s jazz culture through his direction of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, his youth orchestra and the recently formed jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Voted ‘Best Album’ at this year’s Scottish Jazz Awards, KARMA sees the acclaimed Scottish saxophonist exploring new sounds with his quartet featuring the cream of the country’s jazz musicians, exploring grooving rhythms and atmospheric textures evoking Irish, Scottish, Japanese, Indian and Arabic folk influences.

Comprising Smith on tenor and soprano saxophones and Shakuhachi flute, mega-talented pianist and keyboardist Steve Hamilton, six string bass guitar sensation Kevin Glasgow and jet-powered drummer Alyn Cosker, KARMA presents music of gob-smacking energy and superb inventiveness.

The group are set to tour 1-11 November, including performances in Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Stirling, Aberdeen (The Lemon Tree, 7 November), Kendal and Shetland (Mareel, 11 November).

Full details can be found at www.tommysmith.co.uk

Source: Tommy Smith