Openly lesbian jazz singer Lucy Smith's "Songs My Mama Would Like" CD release party will take place at the Jazz Showcase on Oct. 15.
A staple in the Chicago jazz scene, Smith has performed at numerous venues for over 20 years.
She spoke with Windy City Times about her life, career and what people can expect at her CD release party.
Windy City Times: What made you gravitate towards singing jazz music?
Lucy Smith: It was probably there for awhile. The first music I remember singing to in our house was soul, blues and jazz. Nina Simone, in particular, was an early influence because she had a political bent to her music that spoke to me. At the base of jazz is blues and gospel and all these other genres of music couldn't exist without blues and gospel. The cool thing about being a musician is we can incorporate all of these genres and make it ours.
WCT: Tell me a little bit about growing up here in Chicago.
Lucy Smith: I grew up in various neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago and my earliest memories are of when I walked with my brothers to school. My mom didn't send us to the neighborhood public school she sent us to Catholic School.
I remember that our living room had a wall covered, floor to ceiling, with mirrored tiles that reflected what was happening outside on Racine Avenue. A console stereo with encased speakers, turntable and an AM/FM radio sat in the corner of the room. I was in my own kind of heaven. I spent hours listening to and singing along with Josh White, Nina Simone, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Trini Lopez, Mariam Makeba, Eric Carmen, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Barry Manilow. I would sing and dance myself into a frenzy. I used the mirrors as a guide and practiced my body movements and the placement of my pen or pencil that I used for a microphone. I wanted to be everyone I sang along with and go wherever they went and I still do.
WCT: Tell me about your new CD Songs My Mama Would Like and your band Autumn in Augusta.
Lucy Smith: It's been an amazing ride. I'm at a place in my life where I've been making music for over 20 years. This is a very personal project and the response has been amazing. I'm just blown away by it. Due to this project and the fact that it is getting played all over the world I am getting calls for so much more work. Every time people say that your mother would love that you are doing this I am filled with joy.
My mother was born and raised in Augusta, Ga., and autumn was her favorite season so that is where the name of the band came from. My nephew coined the name of the band. This project is an homage to my mother and her music.
WCT: Share a little bit about what it's like being an openly gay performer.
Lucy Smith: I don't have time for anyone who has an issue with me being queer and I've written tunes that blatantly identify gender. I feel fortunate to be in a space where I haven't encountered many issues with my being a lesbian in recent years. Chicago is a privileged space to be queer and I acknowledge that politically, socially and culturally.
WCT: Who are some of your inspirations in the music world?
Lucy Smith: Nina Simone, Lead Belly, Miriam Makeba, Josh White, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and the Supremes, James Brown...
WCT: You are the leader/arranger for the Lucy Smith Quartet/Quintet.
Lucy Smith: Yes. Autumn in Augusta is just a year old so most of my work has been with the quintet. We perform all over Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Chicago is an amazing place to make music. It's an honor to work with the quintet and make music here.
WCT: What else do you do ( hobbies etc. ) that provides inspiration for your music?
Lucy Smith: I do things in my community of Rogers Park. I'm on the Loyola Park Advisory Council and one of the main projects that I work on every year is called "Artists of the Wall." At the Loyola Park Beach there is a sea wall that is white washed every year and re-painted by members of the community according to a theme.
At the end of the project there is this huge wall mural that goes for many blocks. For the last three years I've been producing the music festival that goes along with the "Artists of the Wall" festival. The festival is always held on Father's Day weekend in June. I'm so honored to be involved with this endeavor. In Rogers Park we have a mixture of so many cultures. It's not a melting pot; it's a jambalaya. We don't want to be like each other we want to know more about each other. Volunteering in the community is important to me. You have to know what is going on. Being out in the neighborhood is what allows you to do that and it definitely informs my music.
Another thing that informs my music is I am a news junkie. Before I did music full-time I was the associate director at the Crossroads Fund, which is a progressive foundation doing amazing social and economic justice work in the community.
I've had the opportunity to make music for special events and benefits for organizations working on social justice issues all around the city. It's what I am supposed to do. I'm a progressive at heart.
WCT: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers of WCT?
Lucy Smith: This project represents my musical relationship with my mother and I think it also represents many people's relationships with their mom's. Even though this is my personal journey I think it's music that will speak to a number of people.
See www.lucysmithjazz.com, and www.autumninaugusta.com for more information and to buy the CD visit www.cdbaby.com/cd/autumninaugusta.
Check out Smith at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct., on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Visit www.jazzshowcase.com/upcoming_shows/lucy-smiths-autumn-in-augusta-cd-release-party1 .
