City buzz

Jazz with a touch of classical music

MUSIC

Promise - Jazz on Strings

YOU'RE never too old to keep learning, says veteran Singapore-based musician Rick Smith. The 63-year-old earned his Bachelor of Arts in Composition three years ago and his studies have in part led to the formation of his latest band, Promise - Jazz on Strings.

As the name implies, the eight-piece plays jazz with a touch of classical music. "I love both genres myself - I play some classical guitar as well - and I wrote a lot of string quartets while finishing my BA," says Smith, who teaches by day and plays by night. He was speaking ahead of the group's self-titled album launch shows next week.

The Colorado native, who is currently finishing his Masters degree and who worked in Taiwan before moving to Singapore more than two decades ago, says that "it has been a ride" putting the band…