Lenn Smidt Organic Trio

In a trio featuring drums, electric bass, and keyboards (piano, Rhodes, and Hammond), they tell musical stories they’ve discovered together. The trio’s groove gets right under your skin, and the three musicians’ virtuosity stands out, yet it always remains organic. As a trio, they’ve developed a working method where they craft the music together and then playfully evolve it in the moment. Their repertoire ranges from jam pieces to polished compositions.

The three musicians have been playing together since 2017, and the release of their first album is scheduled for next year.

Each brings their own musical style to the table:

Pianist and keyboardist Lennart Smidt grew up with classical music but preferred to improvise; after studying jazz in Hanover and Groningen, he devoted himself to free improvisation in Amsterdam and Brazilian music in Brazil. With his first solo album, “Boomerang,” recorded at Funkhaus Berlin, he brought these influences together in a deep-listening album.

He met bassist Benson Itoe in Groningen at the Prins Claus Conservatorium, just as Itoe was finishing his jazz studies. Itoe was already an established part of the Dutch scene, having grown up in Cameroon immersed in West African music. He has become known for elevating any band to a new level through his experience across all styles.

Drummer John Winston Berta is a true multi-talent spanning jazz, folk, and funk. On his debut album “Right To Wonder” (2020), he played nearly all the instruments; on stage, he also performs as a singer, guitarist, and bassist. Originally from Hanover with British-Hungarian roots, he subtly brings every groove to life on the drums.

Lenn Smidt Organic Trio

• Lennart Smidt - piano/keys/compositions
• Benson Itoe - electric bass
• John Berta - drums

Text: Lennart Smidt