Sometimes in the middle of night I wake with a start and wonder if any guitar-based contemporary instrumental music would ever have been created if George Benson, Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass had never been born. After hearing the first few seconds of Ronny Smith’s “Bossa Awhile,” which leads off his sparkling new CD, you’ll note the influences from this troika of geniuses and know that their legacies are in good hands. -Brian Soergel

This CD, as his previous ones, has been a growing process for this talented guitarist. And this continuous quest for the best guitar sound results in a highly recommendable CD, which gets him closer to greatest jazz guitarists such as Wes Montgomery and George Benson. – by Akbar Nour

Smith is a master at creating atmospheres that make people eager to bury themselves in, and happy to stay submerged in for long lengths of time. Smith straddles the line of escapist music and compositions that touch human sentiment. He cites Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson, and Roy Clark as his musical influences, and though his image of smooth jazz is arced by their impact on him, he also shows signs of moving past them, having tapped into his own ideas and developing a trademark sound that fits him totally

Not only does he play guitar, keys and bass throughout he also arranges, produces and programs all ten tunes. Eight of these are original compositions cleverly complemented by the addition of two immaculately crafted covers.

Ronny Smith’s Velvet Vibe arrives as a polished contemporary jazz statement: warm-toned guitar with just enough soul, funk, gospel, and Brazilian color to keep the album from becoming one-note. Smith is not presented here as a flashy guitarist chasing speed or complexity. His strongest quality is a style built around warmth, melodic sophistication, and groove rather than hard-edged experimentation.

GT contributor Joe Barth talks to guitarist Ronny Smith about his influences and his new album, Struttin’. Radio promoters have called guitarist Ronny Smith a “tweener” – an artist who falls between jazz and the R&B-flavored unban jazz that dominates smooth jazz radio. Growing up in the greater Baltimore area, Ronny studied at Morgan State University and the University of Maryland. Smith also served four years of active duty as an Army guitarist and thirty-one years of part-time duty in Army bands. As a leader, Ronny has ten albums out including his newest “Struttin’”.

Lauscht man dem aktuellen Album des Gitarristen Ronny Smith dann genießt man nicht nur die gespielten Grooves, sondern auch das von Wes Montgomery und George Benson inspirierte Klangbild, das Smith vor unseren Augen malt. Ronny Smith spielt übrigens nicht nur Gitarre, sondern auch Keyboards, Bass und ist für das Programmierung von Samples und Effekte zuständig. In der Musik von Ronny Smith finden sich nicht allein musikalische Bezüge zu Montgomery und Benson, sondern auch zu Joe Pass, Larry Carlton und Pat Martino. Smith hatte Privatunterricht bei Martino, besuchte die Morgan State University in Baltimore und spielte in der Jazzband der University of Maryland. Nach einem erfolgreichen Probespiel meldete sich der junge Gitarrist bei der Armee und begann 35 Jahre lang in Bands der US-Armee aufzutreten, davon vier Jahre im aktiven Dienst und 31 Jahre im Teilzeitdienst.

Jazz guitarist Ronny Smith is releasing a new album titled “Struttin’.” Set for release April 19, 2024, the album is rich with the sounds of soul and r&b, but it sounds like jazz, too. Smith and the musicians he has chosen to join him have created a soundscape that might change some people’s perception of jazz. The music is energized and thoughtful, but it seems to have the audience in mind. Smith presents fresh arrangements for two classics, but the other eight songs are original. Likely, listeners will not forget this album any time soon. “Struttin’” has all the makings of an instant classic.

On Velvet Vibe, guitarist Ronny Smith delivers exactly what the title promises: a warm, inviting collection of contemporary jazz that never loses sight of the genre’s rich traditions. A seasoned player with an unmistakable sense of groove, Smith demonstrates throughout the album that technical proficiency means little without feeling, and on this recording, you will always feel the groove in the pocket.