Michael S. Smith

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Michael Scott Smith (January 30, 1946–January 2, 2006) was an American Jazz drummer.

Michael Smith
Mike Smith, 1990
Background information
Birth name	Michael Scott Smith
Also known as	Mike Smith
Born	January 30, 1946
Died	January 2, 2006
Genre(s)	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Freelance Drummer
Instrument(s)	Drums, percussion
Years active	1965-2005

Based in the Washington D.C. - Baltimore area for most of his 40-year career, Smith played with jazz greats including Dave Liebman, Herbie Hancock, John Abercrombie, Randy Brecker, Tommy Flanagan, Billy Eckstein, Astrud Gilberto, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Ellis, and Milt Jackson.

He grew up in a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania where his father exposed him to jazz at an early age. His early influences included Art Blakey and Philly Joe Jones. Inspired by the playing of young prodigy Tony Williams in the early 1960s, Smith developed his own style using polyrhythms, metric modulation, and intricate cymbal work that would define his playing for the rest of his career.

He came to Washington in the mid-60s from Youngstown, OH to play a club date with pianist Bobby Timmons at the famed Bohemian Caverns jazz club.

In the early 1970s, he toured nationally with Roberta Flack, but found the travel requirements too exhausting. He returned to his home base in Washington D.C. mainly playing and recording with local jazz musicians. However, big name jazz musicians would always seek him out for their gigs when in town.

In 1976, Smith recorded with pianist Steve Kuhn for ECM Records in Germany. He toured Europe and appeared with Adam Mackowicz at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1985 and 1987 often playing to large appreciative crowds. He accompanied singer-pianist Mose Allison from 1984 to 1990.

Smith continued to play jazz clubs and record until prostate cancer sidelined him shortly before his death in early 2006. A tribute to Smith was held at Blues Alley a week after his death.