Howie Smith
Encyclopedia
Howie Smith, is a saxophonist, composer, jazz musician and educator
Howie Smith was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
in 1943. He was an instructor for the University of Illinois Division of Music Extension from 1970 to 1973 and also taught at Northern Illinois University
in 1971.
In 1973, under a Fulbright grant, he set up the first tertiary level jazz studies program in Australia
at the New South Wales State Conservatorium (now named the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
). He remained as Director of Jazz Studies through 1976, and was a member of the Australian group Jazz Co/op from 1974 through 1976.
Howie Smith is a full professor at Cleveland State University
, has been a frequent performer with the Cleveland Orchestra
and soloist with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony
since 1982, and has presented numerous concerts and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia.
as a clarinet major, and at age 22 he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Music Education from Ithaca College, then going on to the University of Illinois where he received his Masters degree in 1968 (also in Music Education).
Here he joined the University of Illinois Jazz Band, one of the most highly respected big bands in the USA at that time, touring eastern and western Europe with that band in 1968 as well as performing at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival
. As a freelance musician Smith composed and produced commercial jingles for radio and television between 1966 and 1972, and in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s toured with Elvis Presley
, Glen Campbell
, Bob Crosby
, Warren Covington
and Les Elgart
, among others.
He was an instructor for the University of Illinois Division Of Music Extension from 1970 to 1973 teaching a course titled Jazz and Youth Music, designed primarily for public school teachers who were interested in initiating and/or expanding the use of jazz in the classroom. He was also an instructor at Northern Illinois University in 1971 teaching saxophone, improvisation and jazz composition-arranging.
In 1973 Howie Smith received a Fulbright grant (through the Australian-American Educational Foundation) to set up the first jazz studies program on a tertiary level in Australia at the New South Wales State Conservatorium, and he remained as Director of Jazz Studies through to 1976. Thirty four years since its establishment, Jazz Studies continues to be a most popular course at the Sydney Conservatorium.
From 1974 to 1976 he was a member of the Australian jazz group "Jazz Co-op", which included Roger Frampton
(piano and saxes), Phil Treloar
(drums) and Jack Thorncraft (bass). There was a very healthy jazz scene in Sydney during the 1970s and the Jazz Co-op were in demand, doing a number of performances at The Basement (Sydney's premier jazz club at that time), the Conservatorium of Music, the Musician's Club, Sydney Town Hall
, and a number of the "Music Is An Open Sky" festivals that were presented by jazz producer Horst Liepolt
.
While in Australia Howie Smith presented a series of concerts in the Sydney Opera House
as one of the featured artists for Music Rostrum Australia’s “Rostrum ’75;” other featured artists were Luciano Berio
, Cathy Berberian
, Roger Woodward
and Yuji Takahashi
.
In 1976 he returned to the USA and after working as a free-lance musician in San Diego he ultimately took up a position at Cleveland State University where he was Coordinator of Jazz Studies from 1979-2005, served as Interim Chair of the Music Department (1986-87), and served as Chair of the Art Department from 2003-2007.
He returned to Australia in January/February 1979 as part of a group that came to Sydney and Melbourne with Jamey Aebersold
, and again in May of the same year with his quartet (with Steve Erquiaga, Bob Bowman and Ed Soph). That same quartet recorded an album in 1995 called "Second Door on the Left".
He has been a frequent performer with the Cleveland Orchestra and soloist with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony since 1982 and has had virtuoso works written for him by David Baker (Parallel Planes), Leroy Jenkins (Wonder Lust), Edwin London (Pressure Points for Solo Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Balls for solo alto saxophone, and In the Firmament for soprano saxophone, choir and chamber orchestra), Salvatore Martirano
(LON/dons), Mike Nock
(Pandora Was No Lady), Elliot Schwartz (Cleveland Doubles for saxophone and clarinet soloists with wind ensemble), and Martin Wesley-Smith
(Doublets II for alto saxophone and prepared tapes).
Howie Smith has presented an annual “Concert in Progress” in Cleveland every year since 1980, each one an evening of solo and ensemble performances of original compositions. He was the 1985 winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize for Music, has twice served as co-chair of both the Jazz Fellowships and the Music Overview Panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
and has been awarded Ohio Arts Council Artist Fellowships on seven different occasions.
Second Door on the Left, Sea Breeze SB-3019 (1995)
With Other Artists
Kerrie Biddell: Only the Beginning, EMI Australia EMA 314 (1975)
William Cavanaugh: Works, Cyborg 81848 (1992)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Auricles Apertures Ventricles, New World Records 80477-2 (1995)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The Music of Edwin London, Albany Records Troy 595 (2003)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The New American Scene, Albany Records Troy 298 (1998)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The New American Scene II, Albany Records Troy 303 (1998)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Volume 2, Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1510 (2005)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Volume 5, Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1513-14 (2005)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Sound Encounters, GM Recordings GM2039CD (1993)
The Cleveland Jazz All-Stars: Live at Peabody's Cafe, North Coast Jazz NCJ-1 (1982)
Jazz Co/op: Jazz Co/Op,, Philips Phonogram 6641 225 (1974) (Re-released 2008 by Votary Records Australia)
Jazz Co/op: Live at the Basement, 44 Label 6357 706 (distributed by Philips Phonogram) (1976)
The Jazz Unit: Choices, Go-Bop 21459 (1998)
Frank Mantooth; A Miracle, Sea Breeze Jazz SB-2094 (1999)
Frank Mantooth: Dangerous Precedent, Sea Breeze SB-2046 (1993)
Frank Mantooth: Per-se-vere, Optimism OP CD 3229 (1990)
Frank Mantooth: Sophisticated Lady, Sea Breeze SB-2074 (1995)
Frank Mantooth: Suite Tooth, Optimism OP CD 3217 (1989)
Salvatore Martirano: L’s G. A., Polydor 245001 (1969)
Salvatore Martirano: O, O, O, O, That Shakespeherian Rag,, New World Records 80535-2 (1998)
Charles McPherson: Charles McPherson with Strings: A Tribute to Charlie Parker, Clarion Jazz #90501 (2005)
Midwest Composers: Music for Winds, Opus One CD 154 (1993)
Morgan Powell: FoRay FroMorgan, Einstein Records 009 (1995)
Morgan Powell: Morgan Powell, New World Records 80499-2 (1996)
Morgan Powell: The Morgan Powell Jazz Album, Chicago Lakeside Jazz CLJ-605-2 (1999)
Ross Ryan: After the Applause, EMI Australia EMA 313 (1975)
Jack Schantz Quartet: Speechless, Azica AJD-2201 (1993)
Various Artists: Music of Cleveland Composers, Truemedia Records, D90121 (1993)
Helen Welch: One Dream, BigWOW BWP25 (2006)
Phil Wilson: Live and Cookin', Outrageous Records #3.K (1977)
A complete listing of Howie Smith's compositions can be found at *BMI (Search for Howie Smith in the category of songwriter/composer. Then choose first Howie Smith listed with BMI)
Howie Smith was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
in 1943. He was an instructor for the University of Illinois Division of Music Extension from 1970 to 1973 and also taught at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in 1971.
In 1973, under a Fulbright grant, he set up the first tertiary level jazz studies program in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the New South Wales State Conservatorium (now named the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
). He remained as Director of Jazz Studies through 1976, and was a member of the Australian group Jazz Co/op from 1974 through 1976.
Howie Smith is a full professor at Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
, has been a frequent performer with the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
and soloist with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Cleveland Chamber Symphony
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony is an American chamber orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music, and has presented over 200 performance premieres.-History:...
since 1982, and has presented numerous concerts and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia.
Biography
Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1943; Howie Smith graduated from Reading Senior High School in 1961. Early studies with his first music teacher, J. Carl Borelli, included clarinet and saxophone pieces from the classical and jazz repertoire. At Mr. Borelli's urging Smith auditioned for and was offered a scholarship to attend Ithaca CollegeIthaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
as a clarinet major, and at age 22 he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Music Education from Ithaca College, then going on to the University of Illinois where he received his Masters degree in 1968 (also in Music Education).
Here he joined the University of Illinois Jazz Band, one of the most highly respected big bands in the USA at that time, touring eastern and western Europe with that band in 1968 as well as performing at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
. As a freelance musician Smith composed and produced commercial jingles for radio and television between 1966 and 1972, and in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s toured with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
, Warren Covington
Warren Covington
Warren Covington was an American big band trombonist. He was active as a session musician, arranger, and bandleader throughout his career.-Biography:...
and Les Elgart
Les Elgart
Les Elgart was an American swing jazz bandleader and trumpeter.Lester E. Elgart began playing trumpet as a teenager, and by age 20 had landed professional gigs. In the 1940s he played in bands led by Raymond Scott, Charlie Spivak, and Harry James, and occasionally found himself in bands alongside...
, among others.
He was an instructor for the University of Illinois Division Of Music Extension from 1970 to 1973 teaching a course titled Jazz and Youth Music, designed primarily for public school teachers who were interested in initiating and/or expanding the use of jazz in the classroom. He was also an instructor at Northern Illinois University in 1971 teaching saxophone, improvisation and jazz composition-arranging.
In 1973 Howie Smith received a Fulbright grant (through the Australian-American Educational Foundation) to set up the first jazz studies program on a tertiary level in Australia at the New South Wales State Conservatorium, and he remained as Director of Jazz Studies through to 1976. Thirty four years since its establishment, Jazz Studies continues to be a most popular course at the Sydney Conservatorium.
From 1974 to 1976 he was a member of the Australian jazz group "Jazz Co-op", which included Roger Frampton
Roger Frampton
Roger Frampton was an Australian jazz pianist, saxophonist, composer, and educator. Based in Sydney, he played a major role in shaping the evolution of Australian jazz...
(piano and saxes), Phil Treloar
Phil Treloar
Phillip Maurice Treloar is an Australian jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. In an extensive career devoted to creative pursuit Treloar has addressed himself to the problems of relationship found at the intersection of notated music-composition and improvisation...
(drums) and Jack Thorncraft (bass). There was a very healthy jazz scene in Sydney during the 1970s and the Jazz Co-op were in demand, doing a number of performances at The Basement (Sydney's premier jazz club at that time), the Conservatorium of Music, the Musician's Club, Sydney Town Hall
Sydney Town Hall
The Sydney Town Hall is a landmark sandstone building located in the heart of Sydney. It stands opposite the Queen Victoria Building and alongside St Andrew's Cathedral...
, and a number of the "Music Is An Open Sky" festivals that were presented by jazz producer Horst Liepolt
Horst Liepolt
Horst Liepolt is a jazz producer and artist.In Australia, and later in the United States, he organized numerous successful jazz concerts and festivals and also produced a large number of jazz recordings....
.
While in Australia Howie Smith presented a series of concerts in the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
as one of the featured artists for Music Rostrum Australia’s “Rostrum ’75;” other featured artists were Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
, Cathy Berberian
Cathy Berberian
Catherine Anahid Berberian was an American soprano and composer. She interpreted contemporary avant-garde music composed, among others, by Luciano Berio, Bruno Maderna, John Cage, Henri Pousseur, Sylvano Bussotti, Darius Milhaud, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati , Igor Stravinsky.She also interpreted...
, Roger Woodward
Roger Woodward
Roger Woodward AC OBE is an Australian classical concert pianist.-Biography:Roger Woodward was born in 1942 in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, the youngest of four children to Gladys and Frank Woodward...
and Yuji Takahashi
Yuji Takahashi
is a Japanese composer, performer, pianist and author.Studied under Roh Ogura and Minao Shibata at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. In 1960, he made his debut as a pianist by performing Bo Nilsson's Quantitaten. He lived in Europe from 1963 to 1966 where he worked with Iannis Xenakis. He gave the...
.
In 1976 he returned to the USA and after working as a free-lance musician in San Diego he ultimately took up a position at Cleveland State University where he was Coordinator of Jazz Studies from 1979-2005, served as Interim Chair of the Music Department (1986-87), and served as Chair of the Art Department from 2003-2007.
He returned to Australia in January/February 1979 as part of a group that came to Sydney and Melbourne with Jamey Aebersold
Jamey Aebersold
Jamey Aebersold is an American jazz saxophonist and music educator. His "Play-A-Long" series of instructional book and CD collections, using the chord-scale system, the first of which was released in 1967, are an internationally renowned resource for jazz education...
, and again in May of the same year with his quartet (with Steve Erquiaga, Bob Bowman and Ed Soph). That same quartet recorded an album in 1995 called "Second Door on the Left".
He has been a frequent performer with the Cleveland Orchestra and soloist with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony since 1982 and has had virtuoso works written for him by David Baker (Parallel Planes), Leroy Jenkins (Wonder Lust), Edwin London (Pressure Points for Solo Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Balls for solo alto saxophone, and In the Firmament for soprano saxophone, choir and chamber orchestra), Salvatore Martirano
Salvatore Martirano
Salvatore Giovanni Martirano was an American composer of contemporary classical music.Born in Yonkers, New York, he taught for many years at the University of Illinois...
(LON/dons), Mike Nock
Mike Nock
Mike Nock is a jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. He began studying piano at 11 and by 18 was performing in Australia. He headed a trio that toured England in 1961 and then attended Berklee College of Music...
(Pandora Was No Lady), Elliot Schwartz (Cleveland Doubles for saxophone and clarinet soloists with wind ensemble), and Martin Wesley-Smith
Martin Wesley-Smith
Martin Wesley-Smith is an Australian composer with an eclectic output ranging from children's songs to environmental events. He works in a range of musical styles, including choral music, operas, computer music, music theatre, chamber and orchestral music, and audiovisual pieces which bring words,...
(Doublets II for alto saxophone and prepared tapes).
Howie Smith has presented an annual “Concert in Progress” in Cleveland every year since 1980, each one an evening of solo and ensemble performances of original compositions. He was the 1985 winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize for Music, has twice served as co-chair of both the Jazz Fellowships and the Music Overview Panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
and has been awarded Ohio Arts Council Artist Fellowships on seven different occasions.
Discography
As LeaderSecond Door on the Left, Sea Breeze SB-3019 (1995)
With Other Artists
Kerrie Biddell: Only the Beginning, EMI Australia EMA 314 (1975)
William Cavanaugh: Works, Cyborg 81848 (1992)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Auricles Apertures Ventricles, New World Records 80477-2 (1995)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The Music of Edwin London, Albany Records Troy 595 (2003)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The New American Scene, Albany Records Troy 298 (1998)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: The New American Scene II, Albany Records Troy 303 (1998)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Volume 2, Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1510 (2005)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Volume 5, Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1513-14 (2005)
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony: Sound Encounters, GM Recordings GM2039CD (1993)
The Cleveland Jazz All-Stars: Live at Peabody's Cafe, North Coast Jazz NCJ-1 (1982)
Jazz Co/op: Jazz Co/Op,, Philips Phonogram 6641 225 (1974) (Re-released 2008 by Votary Records Australia)
Jazz Co/op: Live at the Basement, 44 Label 6357 706 (distributed by Philips Phonogram) (1976)
The Jazz Unit: Choices, Go-Bop 21459 (1998)
Frank Mantooth; A Miracle, Sea Breeze Jazz SB-2094 (1999)
Frank Mantooth: Dangerous Precedent, Sea Breeze SB-2046 (1993)
Frank Mantooth: Per-se-vere, Optimism OP CD 3229 (1990)
Frank Mantooth: Sophisticated Lady, Sea Breeze SB-2074 (1995)
Frank Mantooth: Suite Tooth, Optimism OP CD 3217 (1989)
Salvatore Martirano: L’s G. A., Polydor 245001 (1969)
Salvatore Martirano: O, O, O, O, That Shakespeherian Rag,, New World Records 80535-2 (1998)
Charles McPherson: Charles McPherson with Strings: A Tribute to Charlie Parker, Clarion Jazz #90501 (2005)
Midwest Composers: Music for Winds, Opus One CD 154 (1993)
Morgan Powell: FoRay FroMorgan, Einstein Records 009 (1995)
Morgan Powell: Morgan Powell, New World Records 80499-2 (1996)
Morgan Powell: The Morgan Powell Jazz Album, Chicago Lakeside Jazz CLJ-605-2 (1999)
Ross Ryan: After the Applause, EMI Australia EMA 313 (1975)
Jack Schantz Quartet: Speechless, Azica AJD-2201 (1993)
Various Artists: Music of Cleveland Composers, Truemedia Records, D90121 (1993)
Helen Welch: One Dream, BigWOW BWP25 (2006)
Phil Wilson: Live and Cookin', Outrageous Records #3.K (1977)
Resources
Some information about recordings and scores by Howie Smith can be found at Music Australia, an online service developed by the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
A complete listing of Howie Smith's compositions can be found at *BMI (Search for Howie Smith in the category of songwriter/composer. Then choose first Howie Smith listed with BMI)
External links
- Howie Smith Website
- [ All-Music Guide - Howie Smith]
- Cleveland State University - Faculty and Staff
- A Story of Jazz in Sydney - by Peter Boothman
- Votary Records