Montecristo Cigars

Willie “the lion” Smith, shown above was rarely seen at his piano without his trademark cigar in his mouth…He was a piano player looked up to by young musicians and peers alike as being a relentlessly aggressive “stride” player that would hold court in late night jazz bars… I’m in the middle of re-watching Ken Burns’ Jazz series that exposes the origin of American jazz out of New Orleans and I can’t recommend this DVD box set enough to anyone who loves music and feels the need to learn about all of jazz’s contributors… As years go by and less and less smoking, especially cigars, is tolerated in public places, I can’t help but miss the days when you could go into a bar or club where you can hear a jazz band, have a drink and light up a cigar! Oh, get me back to Havana soon!