* En anglais uniquement
Stuff Smith was one of the big three of pre-bop violinists along with
Joe Venuti and
Stephane Grappelli. Many of his fans said that he could outswing all of his competitors, and certainly
Stuff was a major force on the bandstand.
Smith, who cited
Louis Armstrong as his main influence, studied music with his father and played with the family band as a child. His first major job and recordings were with Alphonse Trent's territory band in the 1920s, but it was not until 1936 that he had his breakthrough. Leading a quintet at the Onyx Club with trumpeter
Jonah Jones,
Smith's comedy vocals and hard-swinging approach made the group a hit on 52nd Street for several years; his novelty "I'se a Muggin'" became a hit.
Smith worked regularly with his trios in the 1940s, but was in danger of being forgotten in the '50s when
Norman Granz recorded him fairly extensively for Verve;
Stuff also participated in
Nat King Cole's
After Midnight sessions for Capitol. The violinist moved to Copenhagen in 1965 and was active until his death two years later. ~ Scott Yanow