Nate Smith, Lionel Loueke, Michael League - Magic Dance (NAÏVE)

The Slow Music Movement
Jul 25
2 min read

This is the cover for Nate Smith's, "Magic Dance" single showing illustrated electric piano keys and controls on a textured blue background. Text reads "Nate Smith, Magic Dance feat. Lionel Loueke + Michael League."

Nate Smith is a seriously versatile drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and bandleader who has worked with a diverse roster of artists across the jazz and music world, even managing to sneak in a writing credit on a Michael Jackson album. As well as his own eclectic jazz output, he's also got a nice line in R&B and soundtrack projects and even manages to squeeze in a bit of teaching. Oh, he's also got an album dropping in late August.

Nate Smith surrounded by cymbals on the back wall, holding drumsticks in a music store. He's wearing a black leather jacket and turtle neck, with a focused expression.

After the surprising cover version of The Pointer Sisters', "Automatic" featuring the vocal delights of Lalah Hathaway, "Magic Dance" is the second single to tease the forthcoming album, and it hints that the new LP is going to be a loose, free flowing musical journey, calling in all sorts of favours from his enviable address book.

For this latest single Smith hits up longtime pals, the guitarist Lionel Loueke and the bass playing Michael League, and trust me this trio are tight. Skittering percussion, a cosmic synth refrain and some funktified guitar chops ride what sounds like a vintage drum machine riddim to get the ball rolling, but just wait for that heavy bassline from League that will immediately send the dancers heading for the floor.

Groove set it's time for far-out fun as Smith probes the universal consciousness with some variously playful, tripped out and cosmic jazz synth work. League holds the ship and low frequencies steady, as Loueke keeps the guitar simple but funky whilst uttering words of motherland wisdom which infuse the jazz funkiness with some Afro soul for good measure. It's a warm slice of cosmic Afrobeat which should be all over global and open minded dance floors this summer and well beyond. Now let see what that album is saying.