Fort Smith Jazz Festival primer: Odis Elevator & The Flights

Editor’s note: The Fort Smith Jazz Festival is being presented this year by The City Wire, Downtown Fort Smith, Arvest, Kirkham Systems, Raymond James and Associates, Dixie Digital, and Arkoma Services. The festival music begins at 1 p.m., May 22 at Pendergraft Park in downtown Fort Smith. The following is one in a series of Jazz Fest primers.

review by Peter Lewis
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Odis Elevator & the Flights is a Fort Smith-based jazz quintet. They’ve been playing smooth jazz together in and around Arkansas since 2005. Band member Greg Jones recently agreed to answer a few questions in advance of their appearance at the 6th Annual Fort Smith Jazz Festival.

The City Wire: How did the band come together?

Greg Jones: The band started coming together in ’05. We all knew each other, but came from very diverse musical backgrounds. I came from a rock band, the saxophonist had played in college, the keyboardist was playing in church, the drummer brought the most experience playing with different bands in his career. The bassist had played off and on in the rock band I was with. Since then the band members have changed, but I’m fortunate to have met those guys and been a part of that. Looking forward to the future.

TCW: Your band plays smooth jazz. Since everyone isn’t readily familiar with the variety of stylings within the umbrella of jazz, could you elaborate on what this means?

Jones: Jazz (like rock) is a large category.  Smooth jazz) is based on a modern sound — electric bass, digital piano, etc. It’s primarily instrumental.

TCW: Are there particular artists or acts that you are preternaturally beholden to or look to as inspiration, perhaps?

Jones: I’ve been inspired by three particular artists. Chet Atkins, for his level of ability on guitar, George Benson for his speed and smoothness, and Tommy Crook (who is from Tulsa), for his world-class technique. All three are in leagues of their own and any guitarist (including myself) would be doing well to achieve any level of their body of work.

TCW: Everyone has a conception of what jazz is. In many ways, it’s a malleable (and perhaps abstract) concept. What does jazz mean to you?

Jones: Jazz, to me, is a style of music that pursues a different set of chord changes and melody than conventional American popular music.

TCW: How do you envision the future of the genre?

Jones: I believe the future of jazz, at least here locally, is on the rise. I think there will be a shift or surge in music back to a more pure sound.

More info about the Jazz Festival
The Farmer’s Market will be available in the morning. The Park at West End will be open for fun and refreshments. Retailers and restaurants will also have their doors open during the event, and since the admission to the festival is free, we encourage everyone to feel free to explore downtown and listen to their favorite bands at the park as they please. We will also have Whole Hog BBQ and Sweet Bay Coffee onsite for those who feel the music’s just too good to leave.