Colorado-born pianist-music diretor-singer, JD Smurthwaite, has worked at every main piano bar in New York City, dueled with some of the best in the business, and collaborated 
on several cabarets in iconic venues. He’s an up-and-comer, relatively new to NYC, whose aim is to expand his network in the music world of New York, playing with new musicians, playing more venues in more genres and creating a community that can jam and boost each others’ careers (and dreams!). Smurthwaite has been a
You can catch Smurthwaite on Saturdays, August 12 and 19 at 7 PM at Don’t Tell Mama; he’ll be behind the piano for Barbarino Takes a Bev-Nap.
NiteLife Exchange (NLE) asks JD Smurthwaite (JDS) Six Questions:
NLE: What was the first song you learned and what was the first song you accompanied yourself on?
JDS: My first song was long enough ago now that it was probably a Gregorian chant! I grew up playing and singing together, mostly out of Disney songbooks and ch
urch hymns. The first song I memorized/mastered in piano bar for piano bar was “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
NLE: What was the process that you followed to learn to play the piano… did you take lessons?
JDS: Over the past 16ish years I have had a sum total of maybe three years of lessons in different places. Most of what I’ve learned, I learned myself. I always say to people learning the piano, ‘if you mess around and show off enough, you’ll eventually be pretty great (or at least have a good time).’
NLE: What other instruments do you play?
JDS: I play just about everything someone can play at a middle school level. Specifically, I play trumpet/all brass instruments at a high school/collegiate level, and piano at a piano-bar level.
NLE: When you came to New York City what was your goal/primary focus?
JDS: I initially moved to NYC to pursue Broadway and went to music theater college. It took seven weeks for me to realize it wasn’t for me, and several more years trying different avenues until eventually being introduced to piano bar by Scott Barbarino. I met James Luzar ( owner of Brandy’s Piano Bar) through Scott over four years ago, and couldn’t be more grateful.
NLE: How did the piano bars you’ve played in help you hone your art?
JDS: Piano bar has really allowed me to lean into the entertainment side of music. Playing for different audiences, whether it’s a musical theater singalong at Marie’s Crisis, a pop/rock show at Don’t Tell Mama, or a mix of everything and open mic at The Duplex in the Village, I’ve learned to spread joy through music. Following the footsteps of piano bar legends like Michael Isaacs, John Bronston, and Nate Buccieri, I’ve learned so much about entertainment and how to run a room/show. 
Figuring out how to grip the attention and hearts of eighty drunk people at 1 AM at a piano bar has been a unique journey, but one I feel I’ve earned my stripes in. I’ve now got two years in the industry and am proud of how I’ve grown into it, becoming very comfortable at the helm of the piano.
NLE: If you had a friend ask you about the piano bar experience… how would you answer them?
JDS: I’d say definitely go and feel it for yourself. One great thing about piano bar is how many styles there are, depending on the venue, the pianist, even the day of the week. Friends who want to see a bunch of wonderful four-part harmony, I’ll always recommend Sunday night at Don’t Tell Mamas, with Tara Martinez, Joseph Redd and Jonathan Hoover and Nate on the keys (I also often get to sub in on that shift). If a friend is deep into musical theater and loves a sing-a-long, Marie’s Crisis can’t be beat. For friends looking for a homey welcoming vibe, where they can hear all the piano bar classics from the 70s and 80s, Brandy’s is the same old good-time saloon for them. Finally, if friends are wanting to get on stage and sing with me, and experience one of the oldest, most iconic piano bars in the world, then catch me every Monday night 9-4 at The Duplex in the village with Quenton Ellis and KJ Pangantihon!
