Patrick Smith Crafts a Global Jazz Soundscape on New Album
Originally from Ottawa, ON, Patrick Smith is a Toronto-based saxophonist who has studied with Mike Murley, Kelly Jefferson, and acclaimed American saxophonist Mark Shim. Smith has established himself as a gifted and in-demand musician on the Canadian music scene. An active bandleader, he heads three projects: his quintet, his trio 3-Oh, and Pangea – a jazz fusion concept group that combines UK jazz, neo-soul, R&B, and world music. Pangea features top Toronto musicians Darryl Joseph-Denie (Ahi, Listening Room), Kae Murphy (BADBADNOTGOOD, Whitney), and Jon Catanus (Erez Zobary, Diskarte).
Pangea’s debut album, Pangea: Rebirth, is a bold exploration of global musical connectivity and jazz fusion. The album covers a wide stylistic and emotional range, from celebratory funk to deeply reflective ballads. Its lead single, “Endless Construction,” captures the album’s ethos with its unique mix of groove-driven rhythms, compelling improvisation, and a narrative inspired by Toronto’s urban chaos.
I wrote the song, “Endless Construction,” after a particularly brutal drive through Toronto traffic – the kind where you’re stuck for 20 minutes just trying to get onto the Allen Expressway. I was frustrated, but when I came home, I turned that annoyance into music. It’s inspired by a band improvisation from a previous gig and channels the reflective energy I wanted the album to capture.
Smith’s creative process and vision shine throughout Pangea: Rebirth, which draws influences from artists like Shabaka Hutchings and Ezra Collective, as well as genres beyond the jazz idiom, such as neo-soul and world music. The decision to record the album live to tape in a small, unfinished basement studio added a raw, old-school energy. “Endless Construction” showcases the album’s experimental spirit, featuring a vintage Hammond B3 organ and daring effects on saxophone and sousaphone that give the track a modern edge.