The Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio performed in Talley Student Union Saturday night to an enthusiastic audience of more than 300 people. The jazz concert took place in Stewart Theatre and was hosted by NC State LIVE at Arts NC State.
The performance was also the last event hosted during Diversity Education Week, which ended on Saturday. Promoting awareness, respect and understanding of the diverse cultures and people on campus, Diversity Education Week was a collective effort by the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Student Government Diversity Outreach and UAB Diversity Activities Board.
Many concert attendees arrived an hour early to catch world-renowned jazz icon and organist Lonnie Smith and the Art of Cool Project co-founder Cicely Mitchell at the pre-show discussion, where Smith answered questions and talked about his work and life.
“I play as long as I can touch the people and make them happy,” Smith said. “I play by ear — I hear two or three things at a time. [Music] is not about being correct, it’s about how you feel. It’ll get boring if you keep playing the same way. All musicians can play, they just may not be playing the way you like.”
Surrounded by gospel, blues and jazz music from a very young age, Smith has been a master of the Hammond B-3 organ for more than 50 years. He first saw a Hammond organ in a local music store.
“Even though I didn’t know how, I was able to play [the organ] right from the beginning,” Smith said. “I learned how to work the stops and that was it. It’s a passion for me, so everything else came naturally.”
The discussion with Smith got so lively that it ran a little over time, resulting in a late start to the performance. The crowd did not seem to mind, however, and Smith, along with guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Johnathan Blake walked into the theater to overwhelming applause.
The trio’s jazz performance had the audience moving along to the music in their seats throughout the show. The crowd gave an especially enthusiastic response to a long drum solo by Blake.
Andrea Johnson, who attended the performance as well as the pre-show conversation with her husband, Jim Johnson, said they are longtime fans of Smith.
“We were really excited when we heard he was coming to Raleigh,” Johnson said. “We enjoy his music so much. The way he plays the organ is just so natural, and we’re so happy that he’s getting recognized for the Jazz Masters Award.”
Named “Organist/Keyboardist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalist Association from 2003 to 2014, Smith has recorded many record labels since the ‘70s. In April, he will receive the highest honor in jazz, the National Endowment for the Arts Masters Award, awarded to artists who have greatly contributed to the advancement of jazz music.
Emily Allen, a sophomore studying animal science, said this was the first time she had ever attended a jazz performance.
“I’d never heard of Dr. Smith before, but I came because my friend got us tickets,” Allen said. “It was a lot different than I was expecting, but it was really cool. I liked it.”
Additionally, Allen commented that she was glad Diversity Education Week has been established, as it allowed students to experience things outside their comfort zone.
“I probably would never have gone to a jazz performance otherwise,” Allen said. “DEW is just really a great way diversify your experiences, and learn more about different cultures and perspectives.
Jonathan Kreisberg, Lonnie Smith and Johnathan Blake join together at the Stewart Theatre on Saturday to peform. Kreisberg is an American jazz guitarist and a composer. Smith is a jazz musician, composer and recording artist. Blake is a Grammy-nominated drummer and composer.
