Stuff Smith

by Scott Yanow
Stuff Smith was one of the big three of pre-bop violinists along with Joe Venuti and Stephane Grappelli. Many of his fans said that he could outswing all of his competitors, and certainly Stuff was a major force on the bandstand. Smith, who cited Louis Armstrong as his main influence, studied music with his father and played with the family band as a child. His first major job and recordings were with Alphonse Trents territory band in the 1920s, but it was not until 1936 that he had his breakthrough. Leading a quintet at the Onyx Club with trumpeter Jonah Jones, Smiths comedy vocals and hard-swinging approach made the group a hit on 52nd Street for several years; his novelty Ise a Muggin became a hit. Smith worked regularly with his trios in the 1940s, but was in danger of being forgotten in the 50s when Norman Granz recorded him fairly extensively for Verve; Stuff also participated in Nat King Coles After Midnight sessions for Capitol. The violinist moved to Copenhagen in 1965 and was active until his death two years later.