Jonah Smith: The Roots of Pop | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

Jonah Smith: The Roots of Pop XPN | By David Dye Published June 19, 2006 at 2:30 PM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 0:00

With a soulful vocal delivery and a Fender Rhodes at his fingertips, New York City songwriter Jonah Smith has brought together a variety of classic influences to craft a unique and modern

sound. A devotee of pop, soul and jazz, Smith writes songs that are best categorized as "roots music," as he skillfully blends fundamental elements into a sound that's both progressive and

accessible.

Smith relocated from Boston to New York in 2000 and quickly got to work assembling a backup band to perform his compositions. Accompanied by saxophone, bass, guitar and drums, Smith and his

band began attracting notice for their blue-eyed soul and Nashville-inspired Americana. As the group honed its skills performing around the city, Smith's songwriting continued to evolve and

mature, as heard on 2003's Beneath the Underdog.

The Relix label soon came calling, and next week releases Smith's self-titled CD. With guest appearances by jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and fiddler/vocalist Carrie Rodriguez, the disc

provides an appealing blend of distinctive American music styles with engaging songwriting.

Copyright 2006 XPN