Ches Smith with Craig Taborn and Mat Maner

Ches Smith is one of the best jazz percussionists in the country, and it’s a damn shame that he’s not better known. Smith has been lending his talents to many other musicians by playing percussion on their respective albums, but never on his own. In early January, Smith released his first album The Bell as a composer and bandleader with the help from pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri. The trio is now on tour supporting the album and will be hitting up Detroit along the way. The trio creates an interesting blend of contemporary jazz and indie, with Smith at the center with his drum kit.