Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Toronto saxophonist Patrick Smith. Patrick has become a key player in the city's creative music scene. His new album, Words Underlined, came out in December on Lit Soc Records. It's the first release from the new label started by Sellers & Newell, a Toronto bookstore that moonlights as a music venue. Patrick recorded there with guitarist Dan Pitt and drummer Lowell Whitty. The trio plays without a bass, and the album alternates between composed pieces and full improvisations. A few episodes back, we featured a talk with Noah Franche-Nolan, who also collaborated with Dan Pitt. A link to that, and my November 2024 conversation with Dan, are both in the show notes. Patrick's here to talk about making music in the trio format, the Toronto scene, and why a bookstore was the right place to record. (The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the album Words Underlined by The Patrick Smith Words Trio) – Dig DeeperArtist and Album: Visit Patrick Smith at patricksmithsax.com and follow him on Instagram and FacebookPurchase The Patrick Smith Words Trio's Words Underlined from Lit Soc Records, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceListen to Patrick's fusion project Pangea: Rebirth on BandcampSellers & Newell and Lit Soc Records: Sellers & Newel Secondhand Books — Toronto's beloved College Street bookstore and performance spaceLit Soc Records on BandcampWhy this Toronto bookstore is starting its own record label — Toronto Today, November 2025Toronto bookstore is moonlighting as an underground live music venue — BlogTO, September 2021The Musicians: Dan Pitt — guitarist and composer, TorontoBetween the Lines of Dan Pitt's 'Horizontal Depths' - The Tonearm, November 2024Lowell Whitty — drummer and founding member of the Heavyweights Brass BandMentors and Influences: Mark Shim — saxophonist; Patrick's primary teacher in New YorkMark Shim at Manhattan School of MusicDave Young — Order of Canada recipient; Oscar Peterson's longtime bassist, now based in TorontoDavid Liebman — saxophonist, educator, and major post-Coltrane voiceDeveloping a Personal Saxophone Sound by David Liebman — available via J.W. PepperJeff Coffin — saxophonist; source of the Sonny Rollins quote relayed in the episodeMusical References: Paul Motian — the drummer whose bassless trio recordings were the direct inspiration for this projectPaul Motian Trio — It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (ECM, 1985) — with Bill Frisell and Joe LovanoPaul Motian Trio — Time and Time Again (ECM, 2007) — with Bill Frisell and Joe LovanoJohnny Cash — My Mother's Hymn Book — the stripped-down solo Cash record Patrick cites as a model for songwritingSonny Rollins — saxophone icon; his advice about creativity as resistance runs through the episodeFrom Sacred Space to Silent Film — Noah Franche-Nolan Serves the Music - The Tonearm, February 2026 - Noah also collaborates with guitarist Dan Pitt– Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com– • Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
