Tommy Smith (saxophonist)

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Saxophonist Tommy Smith (Born 1967) is one of Scotland's many jazz musicians and composers, an internationally recognised soloist and bandleader since the late-1980s and the musical director and driving forces of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and his own elite Youth Jazz Orchestra.

His CV, since touring and recording the Whiz Kids (ECM Records) album with vibraphonist Gary Burton at the age of eighteen, includes a total of twenty-one albums under his own name for Hep Records, GFM, Blue Note Records, Linn Records and his own Spartacus label.

Smith has worked in jazz groups and big bands, recorded and toured with world-renowned jazz musicians, including saxophonists Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Bobby Watson, Donny McCaslin, Benny Golson and Phil Bancroft, vibists Joe Locke and Gary Burton, pianists Chick Corea, Tommy Flanagan, John Taylor, Gareth William, Christian Jacob, Brian Kellock, Jason Rebello, Keith Tippett, Julian Joseph, Vana Grieg, Niels Lan Doky, Loic Dequidt, Geoffrey Keezer, David Kikoski, Steve Hamilton, Andy Emler and Kenny Barron, guitarists John Scofield, Nugyen Le and Mike Walker, bassists Reginald Veal, John Patittucci, Gildas Bolce, Terje Gewelt, Miroslav Vitous, Peter Washington, Laurence Cottle, Orlando le Fleming, Furio de Castri, Chris Ming Doky, Eddie Gomez, Mick Hutton and Arild Andersen, drummers Trilok Gurtu, Jack DeJohnette, Jon Christensen, Gary Novak, John Rae, Tom Bancroft, Ian Thomas, Gregory Hutchinson, Ian Froman, Adam Nussbaum, Billy Drummond, Sebastian de Krom and Clarence Penn and trumpeters Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Gerard Presencer and Ingrid Jensen. He has composed for and performed with classical orchestras and ensembles, including the Orchestra of St. John's Square, the Scottish Ensemble, the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and the Paragon Ensemble, and has recorded and performed with classical pianist Murray McLachlan, pop group Hue & Cry and Gaelic singer Karen Matheson .

His work with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra includes programmes of Pat Metheny, Oliver Nelson, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Kenton, Theolonius Monk and Maria Schneider as well as Smith's own compositions such as Beauty and the Beast for David Liebman and Torah for Joe Lovano, and his many acclaimed achievements include his work for solo saxophone 'Alone At Last', utilising samples, harmonizer, loop machine and surround-sound concerts to 48 venues over the USA, France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.

His work in jazz education began while working for Gary Burton in 1986 when the group had to present masterclasses to international students all over the world, this kind of work continued with his own groups until 1990 when he starting teaching at Broughton High School in Edinburgh with John Rae, Brian Kellock and Kenny Ellis. 1993 when he began teaching improvisation at Napier University. In 1995 he created the curriculum for the National Jazz Institute in Glasgow which he directed until 1998. He has given masterclasses all over Europe, Americas and Asia. His private students include Steve Hamilton, Stuart Gorman, Graeme Scott, Theo Forrest, Paul Booth, Konrad Wisznieski, Tom MacNiven, Allon Beauviosin, Paul Towndrow, Fraser Campbell and Jo Fooks. ^[1]