Tommy Smith (saxophonist)
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Dr Tommy Smith (born April 27, 1967 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator.
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[edit] Biography
Smith grew up in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh and was encouraged to learn the tenor saxophone from the age of 12 onwards. [1] At the age of 16, he obtained a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music [2]. There he joined Gary Burton's group.
He has become one of Scotland's leading jazz musicians and composers, an internationally recognised soloist and bandleader since the late-1980s and the musical director and driving force behind the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and his own 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-three 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, and has recorded and toured with world-renowned jazz musicians including Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Benny Golson, Joe Locke, Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Tommy Flanagan, John Scofield, John Patitucci, Miroslav Vitous, Arild Andersen, Trilok Gurtu, Jack DeJohnette, Jon Christensen and Kenny Wheeler.
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. He has also recorded and performed with classical pianist Murray McLachlan, pop groupHue & Cry, and Scottish traditional musicians including Gaelic singer Karen Matheson and accordionist/keyboards player Donald Shaw from Capercaillie.
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, Thelonius 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 U.S., France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.
His many acclaimed achievements include his work for solo saxophone 'Alone At Last', utilising Edwin Morgan's poetry, samples, harmonizer and loop machine, which he toured in surround-sound concerts across the world.
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 Beauvoisin, Paul Towndrow, Fraser Campbell and Jo Fooks.
Tommy Smith was once married to the Scottish alto and soprano saxophonist and composer Laura Macdonald.
[edit] Discography
[edit] References
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