The cavalcade of musicians named James Smith would move with an uncommon grace were they all striding in time with the guitarist of this name who is associated with pianist
Fats Waller's recordings during the '30s.
Smith strummed up a supply of rhythm guitar chords with the regularity and determination of a pizza chef preparing sliced mushrooms for the evening's diners. When
Smith was a member of the effervescent combo known as
Fats Waller & His Rhythm he was often combined with players such as bassist Charles Turner and drummer
Arnold Boling. The fat discography of
Fats includes some two dozen sides that feature
Smith, apparently representing the entirety of recorded documentation of the guitarist. ~ Eugene Chadbourne