NATE SMITH + LIVE ACTION (USA)

Nate Smith is a two-time GRAMMY Award-winning drummer, bandleader, composer, and producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he began his professional journey early, performing with Betty Carter at New York’s Blue Note at the age of 20 as part of her Jazz Ahead program. His career spans work as a songwriter and producer—including contributions to Michael Jackson—as well as long-standing collaborations with Dave Holland and his ensembles.

As a solo artist and leader of KINFOLK, Smith has received multiple GRAMMY nominations and developed a distinctive sound that blends jazz, funk, R&B, and contemporary influences. Over the years, he has collaborated and toured with artists such as Pat Metheny, Norah Jones, Jon Batiste, Chris Potter, and Vulfpeck, establishing himself as one of the most in-demand drummers on the global scene. His latest project, Live Action, is conceived as a producer-led album in the spirit of Quincy Jones, bringing together a wide range of collaborators. All instruments are recorded live, without programming or sequencing, preserving the immediacy and energy of performance. It is from this ethos that Live Action derives its name, and it is that spirit that makes Nate Smith himself a sought-after collaborator and one of music’s most creative minds.