"Impeccably cool in a way that only jazz can be - STALEMATE is the sound of summer come early." Mike Bond, UKMusicSearch

'Richard James Smith: virtuoso, funky, intense and immense. Prepare for a hedonistic mix of Soul, Jazz and pure funk that has made the US and Europe pin point his band Row Z on the musical radar. Now for the UK…..' -Manilla Magazine

'Row Z is putting you into "Stalemate" with a mover that's in the perfect middle in between soul-funky blaxploitation and cocktail-sipping Jazz lounging. Never too much in the past, never too far in the future, Richard Smith takes his band from England to the Jazz floors of the world...'
- Soul Seduction review Stalemate/Pulverising Cocoa

Row Z as a collective was formed by Richard James Smith, a virtuoso guitarist who is noted for his style usually by the audience wondering where the bass or keyboard player has gone, due to his performance incorporating lead, rhythm and bass in one.

Described by Jools Holland as '...Amazing', after two months of playing together Richard was soon taking Row Z around the UK and Europe, performing at gigs with jazz and funk greats such as Courtney Pine and Dennis Rollins (Jamiroquai).

In 2003 Row Z recorded an unofficial EP, 'Bunny Girl' with rock and roll Hammond player John Ellis (John Squire, DJ Vadim, The Cinematic Orchestra). This led to some intense touring and spurred Richard on to write a wealth of material.

Fast forward to '07 and the band have a stack of tunes to follow. Stuttgart label Pulver Records heard nu-jazz giant 'Stalemate' and released it internationally in April '06. The band also landed another 3 recording/licensing deals (in the US, Europe and the UK), and are now being distributed by the folks that bring you Beck, Coldplay, Soulive (Blue Note US funk stalwarts), and Fatboy Slim amongst others.

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