The Tonearms: Who We Are
The Tonearms is a collaboration of Indianapolis musicians that love jazz. We play standard tunes, some less familiar jazz songs in the genre, and our own interpretations of pop songs from the last few decades. Because we are a collaboration, our sound benefits from the wide range of musical experiences that we bring to the mix. After all, jazz is about interpretation, improvisation, and a surprise now and then. Below is some information about each one of us.
Phil Smith - Guitar: Phil started learning to play the guitar from an old jazz player and has been playing in a variety of musical configurations for over fifty years, including rock, soul, classical, folk, and jazz. His introduction to jazz was listening to Miles Davis, and later, Weather Report and especially, Antonio Carlos Jobim. But, his influences also include the likes of the Beatles and Steely Dan. In addition to his work with The Tonearms, he also does a a rock or soul gig now and then. His guitar influences come from legendary greats like Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, and Django Reinhardt, as well as contemporary players such as John Scofield, Beréli Lagrène, and many more.
Greg Smith - Bass: Greg’s first musical training was on the trumpet, But in the 1960s, when everyone around him seemed to be forming a rock cover band, he learned to play the bass and started a band with his two brothers (Phil being one of those brothers). He eventually gravitated to acoustic music and the upright bass. For over forty years he has been playing in various string bands while retaining a strong interest in jazz. Now, he is once again working with his brother and working on jazz. He still keeps one foot in the string band idiom, and he brings that influence to the jazz of The Tonearms, with his voice as well as his bass.
Paul Gill - Piano: Of The Tonearms, Paul has the most traditional jazz background, having been introduced to jazz early, starting on trumpet in junior high school. He soon connected with the urban sound of trumpeter Lee Morgan but was also influenced by jazz masters like Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis. Paul was a career musician with the U.S, Army Band, starting as a trumpeter and ending his Army career as a jazz pianist. After the Army, he continued to study piano with Luke Gillespie at IU Bloomington, Gary Walters at Butler, and Harry Miedema at the University of Indianapolis.
Bob McLeaish - Drums: Bob first learned to play the drums by ear, in the 1960s. Later, in the 1970s he studied music at Okaloosa Walton Junior College, which is a small community college in Northwest Florida, under the tutelage of Al Nudo, the alto sax master. Bob went on to study at the University of New Mexico, under percussionist Robyn Schulkowski and drummer Rudy Fox. Since falling in love with traps as a teenager, he has played in every possible musical setting over the years, and in all genres, for more than five decades.
Paul “PJ” Gill - Vocals: PJ joined The Tonearms collaboration at the invitation of his father Paul, but the two of them have been working together for many years, playing bass and singing with Paul. PJ comes from a newer generation of musicians and brings that perspective and style to the sound of The Tonearms.
