The Smarts are a jazz-based quartet that defies any easy category. As the house band for Minnesota Public Radio's "In The Loop" and now Minnesota's premier variety show "Sample Night Live," they've written songs on everything from environmentalism to Internet love to winter solstice to Kim Jong Il. Catchy hooks, well-crafted lyrics, and four-part vocal harmonies give that "Smartsy" feel, even as the tunes hop from jazz to reggae to soul to country and back again. And to keep things interesting, The Smarts are constantly trading lead vocal duties and instruments. Check out the band Minnesota Monthly calls "smooth," "crafty," "witty" and "cool."

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