Simon Spang-Hanssen - Afrolantic (2026)

An esteemed drummer and educator, Billy Hart is one the foremost jazz performers of his generation, capable of balancing propulsive swing with a nuanced sense of group dynamics and improvisational flow. Following his early years backing Shirley Horn and Jimmy Smith in the 1960s, Hart emerged at the forefront of the '70s fusion movement, playing with Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi band, as well as Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and others. Though Hart led few of his own sessions during the first two decades of his career, albums like 1977's Enchance and 1985's Oshumare found him balancing experimental elements with acoustic post-bop traditions. Along with performing, he has built a strong reputation as a mentor and teacher, having held positions at New England Conservatory and Western Michigan University. Nonetheless, he continues to tour and record, often leading a trio with Kevin Hays and Ben Street. He also leads a quartet with Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson, and Street, and they've released albums for ECM, including 2006's Quartet, 2012's All Our Reasons, 2014's One Is the Other, and 2025's Just. The quartet's first live album, Multidirectional, also arrived on Smoke Sessions in 2025.