We are JAZZOLOGY, a jazz trio with Lloyd Smith on guitar, John Schwartz on drums and Walt Kerr on keyboards and bass. Lloyd handles fronting the group on guitar and singing on vocal numbers. We play pop tunes, jazz standards, contemporary R&B and NW rock and roll. It’s all groove music to us that’s fun for the audience to listen or dance to. We will entertain you because we all love what we do!
Call Lloyd Smith for bookings at 206.743.7900.
Lloyd Smith
Lloyd Smith, guitar and vocals, was raised in a musical family whose father played piano and his older brother played the violin. Lloyd started playing drums coached by his father at the age of five. When his brother switched to guitar and bass in his college years to play rock ‘n roll Lloyd began playing his brother’s bass and to teach his younger brother to play the drums. This was the beginning of the band, Raisin Cain, in the 70’s in Seattle. Lloyd has played in many bands since then and formed “Jazzology “ in 2011 with his friend Bill Butler.
John Schwartz
John Schwartz, drummer, began playing drums at Porterville High School (California) when he enrolled in a percussion class during his sophomore year of high school. During those high school years, John was highly influenced by his friend, Bruce Rolfe who introduced him to jazz and jazz drummers including Buddy Rich, Joe Morello and Louie Bellson. Though still having a love for drums, John’s attention after high school was diverted due to the beginning of a career in the Navy, going to college, getting married, having a family, and a career in law enforcement. About fifteen years ago, the spark for playing drums was reignited and John has been playing regularly since. John is really excited about playing with Jazzology as it is an opportunity to expand his horizons by the challenges of jazz.
Dave St. Bees
When Dave is not sitting in at local jam sessions, and when Walt is unavailable, Dave plays keyboards for JAZZOLOGY. Dave and Lloyd played music together in high school and it was good then, but it is much better now!
Walt Kerr
Walt Kerr, keyboards, has been a musician since grade school when he started trumpet lessons. He grew up listening to classical, jazz and pop being played on his parents’ home stereo. In high school, about the time Walt started piano lessons, a drummer friend handed him a pile of records by the Fabulous Wailers, Dynamics, Viceroys and other Northwest groups and asked him to learn how to play rock so he could join their band. Ten years later, Walt’s interest in electronics and music came together and he built several home studios and enjoyed writing and recording songs of his own and of his friends. Walt loves all kinds of music with piano and organ jazz, the West Coast “cool” sound and Latin styles being on top of his list. When Walt met Lloyd they found a common interest in their love of jazz as well as pop and Northwest rock.
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