Derek Smith
Among the fifty players in jazz journalist Gene Rizzo's ranking of the greatest jazz pianists, Derek Smith comes in at number 45 — an Englishman who crossed the Atlantic and made himself indispensable to American jazz. For seven years he anchored the piano chair on The Tonight Show, and for decades more he was one of New York's most reliable studio and session players. His playing prized swing, logic and formidable technique over flash.
This profile covers who Derek Smith was, how a British transplant became a fixture of New York jazz, what shaped his style, and the recordings — plus scores — to start with today.
The short answer: Derek Smith (1931–2016) was an English-born jazz pianist who settled in New York, an eclectic virtuoso who fused the vocabularies of Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson and could switch to stride at will.
Life and career
Smith was born in England in 1931 and had already worked with leading British musicians such as Johnny Dankworth, recording for the BBC, before he left for permanent residence in New York in 1957 — following the earlier example of George Shearing. His first American job was as a solo pianist in the sheet-music department at Macy's; not long after, John Lewis chose him to represent Britain on an international pianists' recording project.
From there the work rarely stopped. He recorded and performed with Benny Goodman, Clark Terry and Tal Farlow, toured Japan with Benny Carter in 1983, and accompanied singers from Mel Tormé and Dionne Warwick to Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé. From 1967 to 1974 he held the piano chair in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band, staying in New York when the show moved west. His piano intros even surface in several Woody Allen films. He was a regular at Dick Gibson's Colorado jazz parties, and he died in 2016.
Style and influence
Smith's guiding light was Oscar Peterson, and he had the two-fisted technique to chase that model — Rizzo, describing his kinship with his idol, notes that he "could pass for O.P." He was an eclectic synthesizer, drawing bebop lines from Bud Powell, a feathery touch from Teddy Wilson and a rolling drive from Peterson, and he could drop into old-school stride whenever a tune called for it.
Rizzo's admiration comes with a caveat: for all his command, Smith could lean on conservative licks and tame harmony, holding back the adventurousness his hands could clearly have supported. Even so, he was a bluesy, propulsive swinger and a logical improviser — the qualities that made him a first-call player for a generation of bandleaders and singers.
Essential recordings
Smith's leader dates for the Progressive label are the best place to hear him stretch out:
| Recording | Label / year | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Love for Sale | Progressive, 1978 | A trio date that shows off his Peterson-styled swing and clean technique |
| Derek Smith Plays Jerome Kern | Progressive, 1980 | A songbook program that highlights his gift as an interpreter of standards |
| Dick & Derek at the Movies | Arbors, 1998 | Two-piano film-music duets with Dick Hyman, a showcase for his versatility and stride chops |
Play Derek Smith's music
Smith was an interpreter, so the way into his playing is through the standards he made his own. Start with the Cole Porter title "Love for Sale," then explore the Jerome Kern repertoire he loved — "The Song Is You" and "All the Things You Are" both reward a close listen. A few of those pieces are open on MuseScore below, in arrangements from approachable to advanced.
Where Derek Smith ranks among jazz pianists
Rizzo places Smith at number 45, honoring a superb craftsman whose reliability sometimes obscured his brilliance. See the full list in our guide to the best jazz pianists of all time, and compare Smith with the idol he chased, Oscar Peterson, and with fellow accompanists Al Haig and Ralph Sharon. To hear how the harmony under these standards works, our guide to jazz chord progressions is a good starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Was Derek Smith British or American?
Both, in effect. He was born in England in 1931 and built an early career there, then emigrated to New York in 1957 and spent the rest of his life as a fixture of the American jazz and studio scene.
What was Derek Smith's connection to The Tonight Show?
He was the pianist in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band from 1967 to 1974. When the program relocated to the West Coast, Smith chose to remain in New York and continue as a first-call studio musician.
Who did Derek Smith sound like?
His clearest model was Oscar Peterson, and admirers said he could nearly pass for him. He blended that with Bud Powell's bebop lines, Teddy Wilson's touch and a command of stride, making him one of jazz's most eclectic pianists.