Kansas Smitty’s House Band

Kansas Smitty’s House Band was formed in 2013 by Jack Abraham and Giacomo Smith. The band is a 7-piece group based in London, specializing in original jazz music. They are known for their approach to jazz, which combines traditional elements with modern influences. In 2015, the band established their own bar, Kansas Smitty’s, in Hackney’s Broadway Market. This venue serves as both a rehearsal space for the band and a live music venue, fostering a musical community that has hosted artists such as Reuben James, Howe Gelb, Louis Cole, Bruno Major, Howard Alden, and Joe Stilgoe.

The band has performed at various notable venues, including Ronnie Scott’s, Wilderness Festival, Jazz Café, Vortex Jazz Club, Shoreditch Town Hall, Rough Trade, and the Vaults Festival. They have also organized and hosted their own Mardi Gras events annually from 2014 to 2017, and produced events at The Peckham Liberal Club and the Dalston Pond. Their music has been featured on BBC Radio London, BBC Radio 2 (including twice on Friday Night is Music Night), BBC Radio 3, and BBC Radio 6. Their debut album was recognized in the Daily Telegraph’s 50 Best Jazz Albums of 2015 and reviewed by The Arts Desk as best new vinyl in 2015. Their music has also been played on BBC Radio 2 shows hosted by Jamie Cullum and Clare Teal, and broadcast live from Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Cerys Matthews’ BBC Radio 6 Music show.

Kansas Smitty’s House Band has released several albums, including their debut album in 2015, “Kansas Smitty’s Live” in 2016, “Movin’ On” (projected November 2017), and “Broadway 2018” in 2018. Food critic and journalist Jay Rayner has supported the band, writing the liner notes for “Kansas Smitty’s Live” and performing with them at their London Jazz Festival performance at Shoreditch Town Hall in 2016. The band’s work has received positive reviews in publications like The Times and Evening Standard, achieving four-star ratings for their performances and recordings.