Sets at 7:30PM & 9:00PM

MARVIN BUGALU SMITH - Drums
Abraham Burton - Saxophone
Esteban Castro - Piano
Santi Debriano - Bass

Internationally renowned for his thunderous technique and jaw-dropping ability to swing a band, the legendary drummer Marvin “Bugalu” Smith was born the son of a carpenter in Englewood, New Jersey in 1949. The youngest of four children, Marvin learned to play under the tutelage of his older brother, Earl “Buster” Smith, who himself was the lead drummer in the United States Army Band, the house drummer at the Apollo Theater, and the rhythm behind jazz legends Oscar Pettiford and Eric Dolphy. The family’s first cousin was Idrees Sulieman (trumpeter with John Coltrane), and Marvin grew up in the presence of jazz royalty—Louis Hayes, Roy Haynes, Sahib Shihab, Donald Byrd, and many others were frequent guests of the house.

Marvin began to play drums at the age of two, before he could reach the pedals, and by his teenage years, he was leading a popular dance band called The Knights of Soul—his mother served as the manager. His first recording date came as a surprise opportunity to fill in for a missing Bernard Purdie at the studio where he worked as an intern, TownSound Studios in Teaneck. The studio hired him as a staff drummer, and he went on to record with a variety of acts, including the legend James Brown himself.

When a call came from Tyree Glenn Jr., son of Louis Armstrong’s trombonist Tyree Glenn Sr., to join the vocal sensation Rocky Roberts’ band in Italy, Marvin jumped aboard, moving to Rome at the age of 19 to support Roberts, who was at the time the number one singer in the country. While living in Italy, Marvin brought first cousin Larry Dinwiddie (saxophonist with Roy Haynes Hip Ensemble) and conga player Karl Potter to join Roberts band, and together performed as a jazz trio called Life Force. His next professional engagement was with Roberts’ girlfriend, the superstar singer and actress Lola Falana at a standing engagement at the famed Sands Hotel in Las Vegas—a favorite show of both Ed Sullivan and comedian Milton Berle.

In the mid-1970s, Marvin returned to Italy, where he continued to perform with top acts across Europe, including Chet Baker, Slide Hampton, Charles Mingus, and many others. It was there that he met his wife, Patrizia Scazziatelli, with whom he moved back to New York in the early 1980s.

In 1982, Karl Potter’s student Kevin Jones recommended Marvin to John Coltrane protégé, saxophonist Archie Shepp. Marvin Smith joined Shepp’s quartet and toured the world for five years with pianist Kenny Werner and bassist Santi Debriano. During this time, Shepp also invited a host of other colleagues into the band, including piano great Horace Parlan, guitar legend George Benson, and piano master Mal Waldron.

During his tenure as Shepp’s drummer, Smith became revered for his original style, virtuosic technique and spiritually prophetic message behind the drum set. The group performed at venues and festivals across the globe, including the Kool Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and Paris’ famed New Morning jazz club, as well as a private concert for the Shah of Iran. They held multiple residencies at New York’s famed Sweet Basil Jazz Club, where legends such as Max Roach, Cecil Taylor, and Elvin Jones regularly came to hear the group perform. The ensemble recorded multiple albums together, including Soul Song, Down Home New York, and The Good Life.

In the late 1980s, no longer working regularly with Shepp, Marvin sat in with Sun Ra, who immediately invited him to join the band. Smith would go on to tour and perform with Sun Ra for five years, becoming close with the mysterious master.

Eventually, Marvin settled in Poughkeepsie and surrounding towns in upstate New York, where he maintained a devoted drum school incuding Kesai Riddick, Andrew Greeney, Jim Bertini, Fitzgerald Sam, Josephine Cuevas, and others. Smith led a weekly jam session for 7 years at the Terrace Lounge, and became the longtime drummer at The Falcon, the celebrated Hudson Valley venue. Frequent guests included pianist John Esposito, bassist Malcolm Cecil, and saxophonist Rob Shepps.

Since moving back to Harlem in 2017, Smith has performed as a part of the projects of Dave Sewelson (with William Parker and Steve Swell), Teodross Avery (cutting the albums Live in New York with Benito Gonalaez and Corcoran Holt and duo as Post Modern Trap Music), and Marshall Allen’s Sun Ra Arkestra.

In New York, Marvin has taught a range of drummers including Charles Goold, Evan Sherman, Charlie Steiner, Cedric Easton, Peter Manheim, and Ethan Kogan.

Tonight at CloseUp, he reunites with Shepp Quartet bassist Santi Debriano — after a gap of 40 years.

This event is All Ages

Seating is first-come, first-served; the last 10 spots in the room are standing room. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SWITCHING SETS OR DAYS.

MARVIN BUGALU SMITH - Abraham Burton - Esteban Castro - Santi Debriano - Set 1

MARVIN BUGALU SMITH - Abraham Burton - Esteban Castro - Santi Debriano - Set 1