Nate Smith, the drummer, producer and bandleader who won two Grammy Awards earlier this month, has been appointed the new artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport Festivals Foundation announced Wednesday.
Smith will serve a three-year term beginning with this year’s festival, set for July 31 through Aug. 2 at Fort Adams State Park. He succeeds Christian McBride, the nine-time Grammy-winning bassist who stepped down in September after a transformative decade in the role. McBride was the first musician other than festival founder George Wein to serve as artistic director.
In the role, Smith will work with the Newport creative team on booking, artistic direction, community building and the foundation’s year-round jazz education work. He takes the reins as the festival enters its 72nd year following three consecutive sellouts.
“With humility and gratitude, I am thrilled to accept the appointment as artistic director of the legendary Newport Jazz Festival,” Smith said in a statement. “I’d like to also acknowledge my predecessor, the one and only Christian McBride, who leaves behind some awfully big shoes to fill. I hope to help foster a more personal connection between fans and artists, in an effort to ensure that our beloved music continues to thrive.”
Bruce Gordon, chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation board, said the selection was difficult given the depth of candidates.
“We were looking for someone willing and able to honor the rich traditions of jazz, staying rooted in what the genre is at its core,” Gordon said. “At the same time, we needed someone we could count on to push the envelope, keeping the music fresh and forward-looking. That person is the remarkable Nate Smith.”
Gordon added that Smith “is family, and has been playing this festival for many years.”
Smith has toured and recorded with artists including Brittany Howard, Childish Gambino, Jon Batiste, Norah Jones, Pat Metheny, Ravi Coltrane and Michael Jackson. The New York Times has called his drumming “a marvel unto itself.”
Earlier this month, Smith won Grammys for best alternative jazz album and best arrangement, instruments and vocals for “Big Fish,” both for his 2025 album “Live-Action.” The album has also been nominated for an NAACP Image Award for outstanding jazz album.
The late George Wein, who founded the festival in 1954 and died in September 2021, praised Smith in 2019 after seeing him perform with his band Kinfolk at the Blue Note.
“Nate Smith is a leader who will make his mark felt on the future of jazz,” Wein said at the time.