By: Rudy Lu

Drummer Nate Smith has played in ensembles varying in size from big bands to solo performances. He will be bringing this experience to the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival as artistic director. So when he walked onto the stage at the Egg, I was wondering who was bringing on. The latest album release “Live-Action” included many guest artists, it made one wonder how many musicians would walk on and who would walk on.

Smith had a trio. But with all the players and electronics the sound was fuller than would be expected. The instrumental line up featured Smith on drums, with coproducer Cartoon aka Mel Carr on bass and Julian Pollack playing the keyboards.

If there was a phrase to describe the ensemble’s performance it would be “precision with soul”. Smith’s arms and legs worked like the precision of a machine.

“Cartoon” provided the funky bass. He assured that the tunes were down to earth and danceable. He is a well known independent producer specializing in dance music fusing many styles.

To provide some “flight” and cerebralness, Julian Pollack (streamable as J3PO) is well versed in jazz, classical and hiphop. His runs and dynamics defied the imagination. A post concert conversation revealed that one fan attended the concert solely to hear Pollack.

At the end of about an hour and half, the audience left the ampitheater with a sense of wonder and joy. Many to chat with the band members who were truly accessible.

Multi disciplinary artist Chris Ryan Williams opened. He played an trumpet augmented by sampling, loops, echoplexes and other electronic devices. The music generated was atmospheric, trancelike yet somehow full of movement. The creation was played without stop for a half hour. It left the audience intrigued yet still wondering.

Thank you Diane Eber and the crew at the Egg for an entertaining and thoughtful concert.

Set List
Undefeated

Automatic

Streetlamp

Retold

Coughdrop

Drum Intro

Big Fish

Last Sight

Super Mom

Magic Site

encore

Skip Step

Be There