For the past several years, Jonah Smith has been perfecting his craft – polished, rootsy, country-twinged folk tunes – from his base in Brooklyn.
Though normally backed by his five-person band, Smith plays Park Slope's Union Hall on June 12 with a scaled down version of his songs. Joined by his guitarist, Andy Stack, the singer-songwriter will sit at his Fender Rhodes and pull from primarily new material off his upcoming album, currently in progress, as well as his older material that has made him a fixture on the independent scene.
After stints in Vermont and Boston, the Syracuse native came to New York City about six years ago, intent on forming a band. After pulling from friends and musicians he met at places like his local bar to form said band, the group has been busy performing all across the world since. Smith's debut album, a self-titled album off of Relix Records, came out in 2006 to critical acclaim. Songs like “My Morning Scene,” a bluesy, rock blend that's immediately catchy, brought on board producer Lee Townsend and soon found play on radio, as well as frequent downloads on his MySpace page.
Much in the vein of jazz, rock and pop mixers before him (Norah Jones, another singer at the keys, comes easily to mind), “Jonah Smith” is an enjoyable collection of smooth, toe-tapping tunes, and featured special guests like jazz guitarist Bill Frissell and violinist Carrie Rodriguez.
For his next album, which the musician is currently at work independently recording in Kingston, NY, he looks to take his sound into a new direction.
“I always try to make whatever record I make different from the last one,” says Smith, who looks to have his latest effort done by July for release early next year. “I've been really getting into Brian Wilson harmonies lately. I'm also thinking about using some different instruments – fiddle, horns maybe.”
For his upcoming show, Smith naturally plans on pulling from these new songs, as well as his older material. There promises to be some special guests as well, though for the moment they'll be a surprise for concert goers.
The Brooklyn gig is unusual for the Fort Greene resident, who's a veteran of festivals such as South By Southwest and Bonaroo, toured Spain earlier this spring and whose last show was at Joe's Pub in Manhattan, though he intentionally sought out the Park Slope venue for this performance.
“I've seen some shows there, enjoyed myself,” says Smith, who felt the basement space was also suited to more of an acoustic show, hence it'll just be him and Stack. “I want to try and play in Brooklyn more. I think it's a pretty sophisticated audience and a pretty open-minded audience.”
With Smith's high-quality sound and soulful lyrics, though, it doesn't take much to get into the groove of the singer's polished gems, and anticipate the surprises in store.
“I'll be pulling out a lot of new things,” promises Smith. “It's going to be a fun sound.”
Opening for Smith on June 12 is Sydney Wayser, a New York singer-songwriter who kicked off the South By Southwest festivities at Stubbs this year with her band, to open for Kaki King and Moby.
Splitting time between Paris and Los Angeles as a kid, her music conveys this dual upbringing, with songs off her debut album, “Silent Parade” evoking bright Parisian streets and youth through charming lyrics and a sweet blend of strings, piano and percussion under Wayser's delicate voice.
Jonah Smith plays Union Hall (702 Union Street) on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. with Sydney Wayser opening. Tickets are $13 in advance, and be be purchased at www.ticketweb.com, or $15 at the door. For more information, go to www.unionhallny.com or call 718-638-4400. For more on the artist, go to www.jonahsmith.com.
