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| Composer & Producer Gregory Smith talking to Professor Bill Tiberio |
Red Corduroy Pants debuted on January 17, 2025, and
is the first jazz EP composed and produced by Ithaca College freshman and music
composition major Gregory Smith.
I asked Smith to respond to a series of questions to find
out why he was attracted to writing a jazz EP, and how he found inspiration to
pen the different songs on the project. Here are his responses in his own
words.
Q: Hello Gregory, thanks for answering some questions about
your premiere EP Red Corduroy Pants. You bill it is a jazz work, so my
first question to you is, why jazz?
Smith: “I have always had a deep appreciation for jazz; a
genre of music that is so encouraging of expression and emotion. Listening to
artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and Ryo Fukui is so
rewarding because you can feel their moment-to-moment thoughts, ideas, and
feelings so palpably through their playing. I wanted to put together a project that
was reminiscent of this style of expression and emblematic of my style of jazz
writing. I harbor a very deep appreciation of the artists of the Jazz Quartet
Era, and so I wanted to arrange for a similar ensemble.”
Q: Tell us about this work, track by track. Start with “Red
Corduroy Pants”.
Smith: The first song, the titular “Red Corduroy Pants”, was
one of the first songs I had ever written. I wanted to make a very catchy and
quotable jazz tune with a lounge-y vibe and a flavorful use of chords. It takes
influences from songs like “Doin’ Time” by Sublime and “So What” by Miles Davis
in its use of repetition in the accompaniment. Bill’s (Tiberio) playing on this
song is very sensual and intimate, and his tone really draws the listener in.
The B-Section of this tune features an upbeat Latin-inspired groove with
driving snares, plucky bass, and stabbing piano. I feel that this chart really
opens up the world of this EP by starting out very intimately and introducing a
real drive while still remaining delicate and sensual throughout.
Q: Next is “Keep it Comin’”, talk about that.
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| Corey Stark on keys |
Smith: “The tune “Keep it Comin’” features Corey Stark on
piano laying down some crisp, clean piano runs.
The front half of this song uses a repeated drum groove that you don’t
really find in classic jazz anywhere. I wanted to make this project feel more
modern by implementing some hip-hop influences, essentially pumping some modern
sensibilities into the whole project to really make it feel new. The back half
of this song does feature a pretty standard swing rhythm with a walking bass
accompaniment, but this, to me, connects the modern style with that of the
classics that have come before. Keeping that balance is very important to me.
Q: “That’s the Bell!” sounds frantic. What can you tell
about this song?
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| Drummer Trevor Torres |
Smith: The next song, “That’s the Bell!” is my personal favorite. It is inspired by the feeling you get when the last bell of the school day rings in high school. I wanted to capture that panicked, frantic, and excited energy. I also wrote this song to give all the instrumentalists a chance to show their chops. The groove starts right off the bat with a double time swing and frantic accompaniment. Bill (Tiberio) rushes in with the main melody and then transitions into his own improvised solo. He wails on the saxophone, ripping through blues-y runs and shrieking high notes. Next, Corey (Stark) on piano shows off his chops by absolutely pounding on the keys. His solo is energetic and hectic and so fun to listen to. Then, everyone cuts out except for Trevor (Torres), the drummer. He brings the energy down a little bit, drawing in the listener with sparse interjections on the toms. Then, he ramps up the tension by falling into a more consistent groove, finally cueing in the rest of the band to run through the main melody one last time. This song really is a treat for any attentive listener. It features endlessly creative and colorful solos from extremely talented instrumentalists.
Q: “Play Somethin’” is next, and it sounds a little different
than what came before. What’s this song’s story?
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| Bassist Jake R. Smith |
Smith: “Play Somethin’” is a really classy swing groove, something I don’t often write. I had a lot of fun coming up with the chords for this one, making it sound as classy as possible, while still falling in the same style as the rest of the project. The melody is catchy and fun, and the solos on this track are great. The standout for me is Jake’s (Smith) bass solo which interestingly utilizes the high and low ranges of his instrument in a very fun and creative way. “
Q: The next song on the album slows things down and sets a
mood. What can you tell me about that composition?
Smith: The ballad of this project, “It’s Snowing in Central
Park”, is inspired by Bill Evans. The quiet melancholy of this song is expertly
performed by Corey (Stark) on keys. He is tasteful in his use of licks, and he
plays with such delicate beauty. For me, this song is a Christmas song. I like
to say, “I know it’s Christmastime when it’s snowing in Central Park”. The
general mood I wanted to elicit was the feeling one gets on Christmas Eve,
sitting on the couch late at night, when the only thing lighting up the room is
a Christmas tree. The world stops for a moment, the snowflakes seem to fall a
little gentler, and the glow of the lights seem to warm a place in the heart
that the cold outside is unable to reach.”
Q: The last track on the EP has an incredible and catchy
groove. It sounds familiar the first time it’s heard, yet it is an original
work. Why?
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| Vince Guaraldi with Charles Schulz' character Schroeder |
Smith: “That last song, “Waltz for Vince”, is an homage to
the late, great Vince Guaraldi. Vince Guaraldi, of course, wrote all the music
for the Charlie Brown television specials, and his music has always had a huge influence
on my taste. I really wanted to pay respect to such a wonderful musician and
person by putting a lot of effort into the structure of this song. To start,
the tune opens with a melody on saxophone. Bill’s (Tiberio) carefree rhythmic
placement lends a cheekiness and playfulness that really encapsulates the
energy of the tune right off the bat. Then, after a clever little time
signature change, Corey (Stark) lays down another piano solo that is blues-y
and catchy and very clearly inspired by the colorful melodies of Vince
Guaraldi. The song switches time signatures again, back to the waltz feel to
have Bill (Tiberio) play through the main melody. The song then has another time
signature change to 5/4 time, where the whole band plays an electrically
energetic and satisfyingly syncopated melody that rings out joyfully. Finally,
the time signature changes one last time, back to the waltz, to cap off this
ode to one of my biggest inspirations. This track is rewarding for all types of
listeners: people who love Charlie Brown Jazz, people who love classy blues,
people who love math music, etc.
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| Professor Bill Tiberio on sax |
Q: Thank you for spending time explaining the tracks to this
first EP of yours. Good luck to you with Red Corduroy Pants and any and
all future projects. Do you have anything else to add about the project or the
experience?
Smith: “Thank you so much! Yes. I’m really proud of this first effort and think it is an accessible listen for all music lovers, not just jazz aficionados. For those on Ithaca College’s campus, or for those who would like to travel there, the musicians will be performing all of Red Corduroy Pants at a live concert on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Hockett Family Recital Hall. Admission is free for all audience members. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about Red Corduroy Pants. The album is streaming on YouTube, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, and wherever music streams. There are some hard copies being sold at the concert as well. Thanks again."
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| Greg Smith, composer, composing... |
