Sy Smith

Sy Smith returns to Indianapolis' Jazz Kitchen by popular demand! Backed once again by Indy's own Brandon Meeks Trio! Two sets: 7:30p and 10p Long renowned as the “Queen of Underground Soul” for her edgy, progressive mix of funk, neo-soul and R&B, Sy Smith launches a fresh new phase of her extraordinary, multi-faceted career with Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete, set for release on her indie label Psyko Records February 16. The critically acclaimed, multi-talented artist showcases her transcendent soprano vocals and signature harmonies/vocal arrangements on a 9- track, 3-interlude set that marks her breakthrough singer/songwriter moment and finds her pushing the boundaries more than ever before as a vocalist, heartfelt, incisive storyteller and first-time producer. Sy Smith has long since solidified her place in the world of underground soul music (she’s often called “the hardest working woman in underground soul”). This Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer helped cultivate the nu-soul scene in that city more than 10 years ago, a scene which now easily boasts some of the most progressive artists of that genre to date, some of whom came directly from Smith’s own band line-ups (including Thundercat and Kamasi Washington). Her catalog includes 5 studio albums, with contributions from a who’s who of producers (James Poyser of The Roots, Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest and Nicolay of The Foreign Exchange). All 5 of her albums, including her brand new project “Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete” have been heralded by critics around the world for Smith’s lyrical dexterity, her vocal whimsy (often colored with a very distinctive rhythmic swing that’s all her own) and her ability to spin a story like few others in soul music. Listeners often remark on Smith’s vocal range, which moves effortlessly from a speakeasy, gritty alto all the way to a stratospheric soprano whistle register reminiscent of the late Minnie Riperton.