Noble Jolley, right, and Zack Pride play at B. Smith's on Saturday night. Giovanni Russonello/CapitalBop

by Giovanni Russonello

Jolley Brothers
B. Smith’s
Sat., Nov. 27, 2010

Those who go to B. Smith’s, the upscale eatery in Union Station’s towering East Hall, go to eat. Diners clink away at their plates, converse and treat the place like a glorified family dining room. The soul food is delicious, and it’s the main reason for being there.

So it could just feel like just icing on the cake for there to be a trio of jazz musicians at the front of the room, running through standards with accommodating but commanding aplomb.

If you take a moment to pay attention, though (and inevitably you do), you realize that these guys aren’t just the hired hands for background fare. They are a few of D.C.’s best players. The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play some of the District’s most original, self-assured and unpredictable bop. These twins are also two kind, unassuming people, which comes through in how they handle their weekend gigs at B. Smith’s, where they play every Friday and Saturday evening, and Sunday for brunch. No matter how worthy or exploratory, the music never overwhelms its surroundings.

That said, this is far from your average restaurant backing band. On Saturday night, upon Nate’s urging, the group’s laid-back-on-your-heels take on Miles Davis’ “So What” adopted a soulful, lightly funky backbeat during the final vamp, tugging subconsciously at listeners’ ears. And a brimming version of Chick Corea’s “Humpty Dumpty” found the brothers playfully trading four-bar solos, encroaching on each other’s time more and more until the thing digressed – or progressed – into collective improvisation. All along, bassist Zack Pride kept on top of the beat, pushing the music ever forward.

Nate Jolley, left, and the trio adapt to their role as a restaurant band without losing their distinctiveness. Giovanni Russonello/CapitalBop

Later, Noble went on to spontaneously reharmonize the top of Duke Ellington’s classic ballad “In a Sentimental Mood” and guide the trio through a soothing rendition. He showed his debt to Herbie Hancock, but also his contemporary spirit, on Davis’ “Nardis,” touching on brief moments of gospel amid quick, rhythmic dances.

Nate Jolley’s star is beginning to rise in New York, where he’s been playing with the saxophonist Albert Rivera, and Noble’s is sure to follow close behind. They’ve already embarked on a producing career, and now run a small company called Jolley Productions that handles R&B projects. They also have a strikingly good CD — of mostly straight-ahead jazz — fully prepared and waiting for its official release in February. Keep an eye on these guys.

At B. Smith’s, the fried catfish, shrimp and grits, smothered chicken and macaroni and cheese are the most common reasons for walking in the door. But once you’re there, put aside your conversation and your meal for a few moments, and take note of the quickly ascending musicians playing just a few feet away.

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The Jolley Brothers perform in a trio at B. Smith’s, every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., and every Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. B. Smith’s is located in the East Hall of Union Station, at 40 Massachusetts Ave. NE.

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