Categories Music Print Media

Damian Lewis Scheduled to Perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival

With Jazz Outfit Kansas Smitty’s

by Connie Evans | The Independent | February 7, 2023

Damian Lewis is set to team up with jazz outfit Kansas Smitty’s to perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival at Montpellier Gardens.

The 51-year-old British actor, best known for starring in TV dramas including Band Of Brothers and Homeland, is expected to play tracks from his debut album, which is set to be released in June of this year.

Lewis, who last year played an intimate London show and appeared at the Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, will be accompanied on stage by the jazz group, which is headed up by Italian-American musician Giacomo Smith.

Having played the guitar since the age of 13, Lewis rediscovered the instrument during lockdown and later teamed up with various London-based musicians, including Smith, who plays both clarinet and alto saxophone, to record his debut album.

Lewis will join the seven-piece outfit, who have previously sold out Ronnie Scott’s and The Jazz Cafe. Tickets for Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which takes place beginning Wednesday, April 26 through Monday, May 1, 2023, will go on sale on March 1 here. Damian will play the Jazz Arena on Monday, May 1, 2023 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. and tickets start at £30. His event number is J22. Don’t miss Kansas Smitty’s late-night takeover sessions in Cheltenham’s bar and event space The Daffodil Restaurant on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 28 – April 30) at 11:00 p.m. each night.

Read the rest of the original article at The Independent
Secondary Source: Evening Standard

Categories Audio Music Podcast Video

Damian on the Out to Lunch Podcast and Video of Jazz Performance

Damian Lewis and the Kansas Smitty’s Supersize Band

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 1, 2021

Listen to Damian on today’s podcast episode of Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner here.  Among many other things, Damian discusses his music and work with the the Kansas Smitty’s Supersize Band.

Here is Damian performing the Dr. John classic ‘Such a Night’ with the Kansas Smitty’s, recorded on February 23, 2021 from Kansas Smitty’s headquarters in East London.  Giacomo Smith and Alec Harper on Alto, Camilla George on Tenor, Dylan Jones on Trumpet, Dave Archer on Guitar, Kit Downes on Keyboard, Joe Webb on Piano, Ferg Ireland on Bass and Jas Kayser and Will Cleasby on Drums.