Derek Smith

San Francisco Bay Area musician Derek Smith pays tribute in his second album to legendary musicians that have developed the infectious rhythms and sounds that have come to define Latin Jazz.
Smith continues the genre's love for innovation in Latin Expression by uniting the melodic brightness of the steel drum with the soulful resonance of the vibraphone. Smith uses the unique instrumentation to capture the musical expression of Latin Jazz masters, such as Ernest Ranglin, Mario Bauza, Ray Bryant, and Mongo Santamaria.
In Latin Expression, Smith also pays a personal tribute to musical legends with the debut of his original song "Mi Cancion." The song's hypnotic sound elegantly marries Dave Brubeck-like melodies and rhythmic nuances influenced by songs like "Mas Que Nada" and other brazilian favorites.
The album achieves additional heights through the contributions of some of the Bay Area's most talented musicians such as pianist Jason Moen, percussionist Colin Douglas, drummer Mike Shannon, pannist Mark Rosenthal, and bassist Aaron Germain.