First of all, the trio that appears on San Francisco Bay Jazz isn’t your typical combo. There’s Smith on vocals and acoustic guitar, Mark Holzinger on lead guitar, and Chris Justin on electric bass. Sometimes, Smith adds a little harmonica to the mix. The result is a CD that is a meeting of jazz and blues, uptown and downtown, late-night lounge and dirty juke joint. The intimacy of just the three string instruments highlights Smith’s voice that’s coffee-rich and carries a subtle kick. It also gives plenty of room for Holzinger’s slick finger work. Listen to him on “Old Devil Moon.” The new CD finds Smith playfully taking a stab at other chestnuts, including “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “There Will Never Be Another You.” He even does “Fly Me to the Moon,” trading in Sinatra hipness for a more earthy approach. The group also reinvents Miles Davis’ “All Blues” with new lyrics. Smith comes from a musical family. His uncle is Delaney Bramlett of the 1970s’ rock-blues duo Delaney & Bonnie. That background may help explain the bluesy quality underneath the music. Listeners looking for something off the beaten path should give Smith a try.

I love this cd so much. I like Johnny's version of these all time greats even better than the originals. I just wish I could see him live again soon since I've moved from Napa, Ca I have been to a better live performance than in small town Napa with Johnny Smith.

Johnny Smith may not be a musical household name, but his rural Missouri roots and Uncle Delaney and Aunt Bonnie Bramlett gave him some serious soul bona fides. Following a musical youth and a stint in the Marines, Smith returned to his second home of Southern California, skirting big fame, making smart and informed pop music. Now having relocated to the Bay Area, Smith has put together a vibrantly smart trio with guitarist Mark Holzinger and bassist Chris Justin. Smith contributes his acoustic Martin D35, harmonica, and the most expressive vocal capability this side of Joe Cocker. Smith sews all of these elements into a quilt with the Great American Songbook, and the results are beyond refreshing: they are elemental. Smith recasts several Sinatra warhorses, repackaging them for a new generation. The opener, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “That Old Devil Moon” kick things off in style. Add “Fly Me to the Moon,” “There Will Never Be Another You” and “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and you have a mini-tribute to the Chairman of the Board. These songs are all dispatched with the primacy of folk blues and the rustic all-American vernacular of Smith, scrubbing them so fresh that the listener may gasp. But this Sinatra homage is merely the cream. Miles Davis’ “All Blues” is given a down-home treatment with Smith’s rural harmonica and Midwestern delivery. I will bet few people have ever heard Miles covered like this. The pinnacle of the disc is the trifecta of soul jazz: Joe Zawinul’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” Bobby Timmons’ “Moanin’” and Horace Silver’s “Song for my Father.” Smith’s densely expressive soul brogue sends these songs over the top. Instrumentally, San Francisco Bay Jazz sounds like a California version of Le Hot Club du France, coupling Smith’s acoustic guitar with Holzinger’s electric. Justin holds his own with a left-handed 4/4, keeping all the pieces skipping along. The tipple point is reached on “Moanin’” for all three instumentalists. Recordings like San Francisco Bay Blues make writing about music a true pleasure. The stars are in line for Johnny Smith et al. and for us listeners also. This is an end-or-the-year pick for sure.

There is no piano; in fact, there are no keyboards at all. There are no horns, no trumpets or saxophones. There are no tambourines, maracas or conga drums. In fact, there are no drums. So, how does a recording made without these essential instruments sound? Beautiful, simply beautiful. Johnny Smith combines his silky smooth vocals and soft rhythm guitar with the intricate lead guitar and backing vocals of Mark Holzinger. Chris Justin’s tasty bass lines help create twelve tracks that will carry the listener away on a magic carpet ride of smooth jazz. Even the compositions chosen for this disc are simply beautiful. Beautiful old standards, seldom heard in today’s mainstream music. Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Old Devil Moon,” by Burton Lane; Bart Howard’s “Fly Me to the Moon” and Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen’s “Come Rain or Come Shine” are just four of the twelve tracks on this recording. Once you’ve listened to “San Francisco Bay Jazz,” you will understand why this reviewer struggled to provide the superlatives normally required for a fine recording. It is simply stated: one stellar bass guitarist accompanying two journeymen jazz guitarists to support the exceptional voice of Johnny Smith as he performs some of the finest tunes ever composed. Fifty-two minutes of “San Francisco Jazz” will lower your blood pressure and put a smile on your face. Simply beautiful.