DJ Smash
Encyclopedia
DJ Smash aka Smash Hunter (born Wayne Allen Hunter, in Manhattan, New York) is a DJ, music producer, remix
er and project consultant.
He co-founded New York indie dance label Eightball Records
(1990) producing 4 releasess (Jazzy Grooves Vol. 1&2, Jazz Not Jazz and Transphonix) for the imprint.
In 1992 he co-founded New Breed Records with Asia Love.
As A&R and creative director of the imprint, he signed artists, compiled singles, EPs and full length releases.
As as a producer/artist released over 30 of his own titles under various production aliases such as Jazz Not Jazz Massive, Yardboy, 2Much, JB, Cubian and Transphonix.
In 1994, he appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool, remixing a track featuring Groove Collective
and Bernie Worrell
. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time Magazine.
He's compiled and remixed internationally released projects for labels such as Blue Note
Records and Instinct/Acid Jazz Records.
Remix credits include works by Stevie Wonder
, Marvin Gaye
, Bobby McFerrin
, Medeski Martin & Wood
, Roy Ayers
, Herbie Hancock
, rapper Guru
's Jazzmatazz, Donald Byrd
, Bob Belden
Project feat. Cassandra Wilson
and Dianne Reeves
, Groove Collective
and many others.
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
er and project consultant.
Background
His first records were released in 1989 as Transphonic by defunct indie dance label Nu Groove Records founded by Karen and Frank Mendez along with R&B/Dance producers Burrell.He co-founded New York indie dance label Eightball Records
Eightball Records
Eightball Records is an independent record label established 2003 in Sydney, Australia by Paul Fahy.-Releases:Releases Include:*Blue.Skies.At.War - You Pour The Gasoline, I'll Light The Match *Dead Letter Dept...
(1990) producing 4 releasess (Jazzy Grooves Vol. 1&2, Jazz Not Jazz and Transphonix) for the imprint.
In 1992 he co-founded New Breed Records with Asia Love.
As A&R and creative director of the imprint, he signed artists, compiled singles, EPs and full length releases.
As as a producer/artist released over 30 of his own titles under various production aliases such as Jazz Not Jazz Massive, Yardboy, 2Much, JB, Cubian and Transphonix.
In 1994, he appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool, remixing a track featuring Groove Collective
Groove Collective
Groove Collective is a contemporary jazz group. In 2007 they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year for the release People People Music Music on the Savoy Jazz label.-Style:Groove Collective was formed in 1990...
and Bernie Worrell
Bernie Worrell
George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time Magazine.
He's compiled and remixed internationally released projects for labels such as Blue Note
Blue note
In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
Records and Instinct/Acid Jazz Records.
Remix credits include works by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin
Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.-Life:...
, Medeski Martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar....
, Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, rapper Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
's Jazzmatazz, Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
, Bob Belden
Bob Belden
James Robert Belden is an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader and producer. He is noted for his Grammy Award winning jazz orchestral recording titled The Black Dahlia. He is also a past head of A & R for Blue Note Records.Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in...
Project feat. Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
and Dianne Reeves
Dianne Reeves
Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a...
, Groove Collective
Groove Collective
Groove Collective is a contemporary jazz group. In 2007 they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year for the release People People Music Music on the Savoy Jazz label.-Style:Groove Collective was formed in 1990...
and many others.