@walter-smith
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Walt Smith – came to prominence in the mid 70’s as the jazz clarinettist with Mike Hart’s New Society Syncopators in Edinburgh. Known over the years for his “animated, intense playing” today Walt leads the Storyville All Stars as well as his Django Reinhardt inspired group Havana Swing. Walt has also featured with the Dundee based East Coast Jazzmen, the Milenburg band based in Fife, the Scottish showband Spatz and Co., as well as many small jazz groups.
Walt highlights his involvement with Havana Swing as being the closest he has ever been to emulating the swing groups that formed his early listening : Benny Goodman quartet, Artie Shaw’s Gramercy Five, Tommy Dorsey’s Clambake Seven etc. The ability to solo in front of talented musicians that are both able to provide competent timing and accurate chord patterns is a joy.
Apart from jazz festivals Walt spends part of his holidays attending the Jazz Summer School and professional jazz performer courses at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
Havana Swing - Undecided (Robins/Shavers)
Duration: 00:04:32
Description:
http://www.facebook.com/HavanaSwing
Havana Swing playing at the 20th annual Kirkcudbrigh Jazz Festival.
Mario Caribe (double bass)
Kevin Murray (lead guitar)
David Rattray (lead guitar)
Walt Smith (clarinet)
"Undecided" is a popular song written by Sid Robins and Charlie Shavers and published in 1938.
The first recording was made by John Kirby and The Onyx Club Boys on October 28, 1938, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 2216, with the flip side "From A Flat to C"[2].
It was also recorded by Chick Webb and his Orchestra with vocal by Ella Fitzgerald on February 17, 1939 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 2323, with the flip side "In the Groove at the Grove".
The biggest hit version was recorded by The Ames Brothers with Les Brown's orchestra on June 25, 1951 and released by Coral Records as catalog number 60566, with the flip side "Sentimental Journey". It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on September 28, 1951 and lasted 20 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6.
