Kenny Smith was unquestionably born into blues royalty. He grew up in the same house where Muddy Waters once lived in Chicago, the home of the blues. Throughout his childhood, Kenny was surrounded by Muddy and his friends, which included his own father, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (1936-2011). These same blues icons helped mold him into the person and drummer he is today and later in life asked him to provide his famous backbeat on some of the largest and most respected stages and recordings in the world. Kenny has played thousands of live performances to date and has earned the right to wear that royal blues crown. His father, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, played drums for the Muddy Waters’ Band in the early 1960’s and then again from 1968 through 1980 and was featured on all of Muddy’s Grammy winning albums. Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, one of the best known living blues drummers today, learned 99% of what he knows about drumming from his father and was also inspired by acclaimed drummers: Odie Payne, Fred Below, Earl Phillips, Louie Bellson, S.P. Leary, Francis Clay and Art Blakey, Sonny Payne, Clifton James and many others who paved the way. And with those experiences Kenny has revitalized and created new interpretations of the blues drummers as he pushes blues drumming to new innovative and tradition styles.
Wallace Roney talks about his new recording "Blue Dawn – Blue Nights"
Orbert Davis Talks the "River" and Hyde Park Jazz Fest
Bassist Ben Wolfe Talks about his new Recording Fatherhood on Chicago Jazz Audio Experience
Charles Rick Heath - Feature Interview Chicago Jazz Magazine
Mark Walker Grammy winning drummer & educator previews his new recording and upcoming shows
Dave Rempis Talks about Fred Anderson, Chicago Jazz Fest and more
Jazz, Surfing and Wellness - Andrew Longaker on the Chicago Jazz Audio Exprience
Chicago Jazz Fest Preview - Fat Babies founder Beau Sample
Richard Delaney from the Mambo Kings
Paul Taylor on the Chicago Jazz Audio Experience
Boney James on the Chicago Jazz Audio Experience Podcast
Chicago Audio Experience - Mister Kelly's Chicago
Drummer Joel Baer on TALKING JAZZ with Mike Jeffers
Organist Pat Bianchi on the Chicago Jazz Audio Experience Podcast
Talking Jazz with Anne & Mark Burnell - Jazz at the Cabaret
Guitarist Geordie Kelly Talks Navy Band, the Chicago Jazz Cruise, Playing at the White House and more on Talking Jazz
Tatsu Aoki previews the UNDU project featuring Nicole Mitchell and the MIYUMI Project
Isaiah Collier talks about his music, Jazz Insitute, new recordings and more
Mike Reed Talks about his New Book "The City Was Yellow: Jazz & Improvised Music 1980-2010"
Talking Jazz with Jon Faddis Concert Preview June 7th
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