Ep. 141: Jason Smith

Welcome, Jason Smith, AKA Jazzbo Smitty. He's a drummer, songwriter, and guitarist. Jason lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He says he was self-taught for, " the first twenty or so years of playing music. About 15 years ago, I started taking formal guitar lessons."

Jason Smith started playing music in front of audiences during college in Ohio; first as a drummer. He was a songwriter for the punk band, The Johnny Depps, then with the classic rock band Maxwell's Demon, then acoustic guitar and vocals in the acoustic duo Lido.

In 1994, he moved to New Bedford and joined the just-formed group Pumpkin Head Ted, and continues to be a member to this day. Six years ago, Jason founded the group The Hot Club Cheese Roll focusing on the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephen Grappelli.

The Artists Index Music Podcast Host, Jeff Angeley, talks with Jason Smith about his music, background, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Jeff's studio in 2023. The Artists Index also continues using Zoom and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford.

The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.