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J.C. Smith Band
Experience world-class blues, dinner, and drinks — all in one intimate setting.
JC Smith has shared bills with B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin, and his band has been named West Coast Blues Band of the Year, with Smith honored as Male Blues Performer of the Year. The Monterey Jazz Festival booked the JC Smith Band for its 2025 lineup, and Metro critic Jim Harrington once wrote that Smith’s richly distinctive voice is reminiscent of B.B. King. The San Jose bandleader spent years behind the drums, founding the Tough City Band in 1984 and anchoring the Back to Back Blues Band for about a decade, before stepping out front with a guitar around 2000. His 2001 debut, The Midnight Creeper, was produced by San Francisco Blues Festival founder Tom Mazzolini. Since then he has toured Russia, Chile and Costa Rica and cut a live album in Argentina. Ring in 2027 with him on New Year’s Day, and grab your seats before they go.
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Metro critic Jim Harrington compared JC Smith’s voice to B.B. King’s, and the Monterey Jazz Festival put his band on its 2025 lineup. A drummer for years before switching to guitar around 2000, the San Jose bandleader debuted with The Midnight Creeper, produced by San Francisco Blues Festival founder Tom Mazzolini, and has long hosted blues radio on KKUP as Johnnie Cozmik. Along the way he has shared bills with B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin, and picked up West Coast Blues Band of the Year and Male Blues Performer of the Year honors. Start 2027 with real West Coast blues, and book early.