Putter Smith

©Photography / Kirk Hammond
bass
USA
Patrick Verne “Putter” Smith (born January 19, 1941) is an American jazz bassist, music teacher, author, and actor.
Smith was born in Bell, California, and began playing the bass at the age of eight, inspired by his older brother Carson Smith. He made his performing début aged 13 at the Compton Community Center.
Bass Master Putter Smith’s unique style got him to work with giants such as Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine, Diane Schuur, Lee Konitz, Bruce Forman, Jackie and Roy, Carmen McRae, Gary Foster, Art Farmer, Blue Mitchell, Erroll Garner, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Mason Williams, Percy Faith, Alan Broadbent, Walter Norris, Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer, and Johnny Mathis. He also works as a session musician, playing on recordings by Sonny and Cher, The Beach Boys, The Righteous Brothers and many others.
Smith has also taught at the Musician’s Institute, and at the California Institute of the Arts.
Smith was playing with Monk at the Los Angeles jazz club Shelly’s Manne-Hole when he was spotted by director Guy Hamilton, who cast him as the assassin “Mr. Kidd” (alongside Bruce Glover as “Mr. Wint”) in the 1971 James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever”. He went on to have several other minor acting roles on film and television.
Artist on GAM Records
Desert Passes – Now in digital pre-order! – International Release date: February 28, 2025
US Master bassist Putter Smith strikes again with "Desert Passes", his second masterpiece on GAM RECORDS!
Here is pure jazz, with a high dosage of freshness, originality, humor, and Putter Smith's unique approach to music writing, playing, to life in general.
Night Song
Bass wizard Putter Smith convened a group of highly individual master instrumentalists who weaved a mysterious, lush, profound message of beauty.