Wadada Leo Smith
Encyclopedia
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (born 18 December 1941) is a trumpeter and composer
working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz
and free improvisation
.
. He started out playing drums, mellophone
, and French horn before he settled on the trumpet. He played in various R&B groups and by 1967 became a member of the AACM
and co-founded the Creative Construction Company
, a trio with Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton
. In 1971, Smith formed his own label, Kabell. He also formed another band, the New Dalta Ahkri, with members including Henry Threadgill
, Anthony Davis
and Oliver Lake
.
In the 1970s, Smith studied ethnomusicology
at Wesleyan University
. He played again with Anthony Braxton
as well as recording with Derek Bailey's Company
. In the mid-1980s, Smith became Rastafarian
and began using the name Wadada. In 1993, he began teaching at Cal Arts
, a position he currently holds. In addition to trumpet and flugelhorn, Smith plays several world music instruments, including the koto
, kalimba, and atenteben
(Ghanaian bamboo flute). He has also taught courses in instrument making. His compositions often use a graphic notation
system he calls "Ankhrasmation," which he developed in 1970.
In 1998, Smith and guitarist Henry Kaiser
released Yo, Miles! a tribute to Miles Davis
's lesser-known 1970s electric period. On this album, Smith, Kaiser and a large cast of musicians recorded cover versions and original compositions inspired by Miles's electric music. The follow-ups Sky Garden (released by Cuneiform
in 2004) and Upriver (released in 2005) were recorded with a different cast of musicians. Both line-ups featured Michael Manring
on bass.
Smith's Golden Quartet (with whom he's released two albums) features Jack DeJohnette
on drums, Anthony Davis
on keyboards, and Malachi Favors
on bass. During the 2000s, Smith recorded albums for John Zorn
's Tzadik, as well as Pi Recordings
. In 2008, he and his Golden Quartet released a DVD entitled Freedom Now.
With Marion Brown
With Anthony Braxton
With Henry Kaiser
With Frank Lowe
With Matthew Shipp
With Spring Heel Jack
With John Zorn
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. Avant-jazz often sounds very similar to free jazz, but differs in that, despite its distinct departure from traditional harmony, it has a predetermined structure over which ...
and free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
.
Biography
Smith was born in Leland, MississippiLeland, Mississippi
Leland is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,790 at the 2008 census.The town is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on the banks of Deer Creek, which is decorated each Christmas season with floats that bring visitors from afar to view the...
. He started out playing drums, mellophone
Mellophone
The mellophone is a brass instrument that is typically used in place of the horn in marching bands or drum and bugle corps....
, and French horn before he settled on the trumpet. He played in various R&B groups and by 1967 became a member of the AACM
AACM
AACM may refer to:* Ali Akbar College of Music, three schools founded by Indian musician Ali Akbar Khan to teach Indian classical music* Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, one of fourteen cemeteries for American World War II dead on foreign soil...
and co-founded the Creative Construction Company
Creative Construction Company
The Creative Construction Company was an American jazz ensemble active briefly in the early 1970s.The ensemble recorded two albums for Muse Records and was composed of six noted improvisationalists: Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Muhal Richard Abrams, Richard Davis, and Steve...
, a trio with Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
. In 1971, Smith formed his own label, Kabell. He also formed another band, the New Dalta Ahkri, with members including Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill
Henry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres....
, Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (composer)
Anthony Davis, better known as Tony Davis , is an American composer, jazz pianist, and student of gamelan music.-Biography:...
and Oliver Lake
Oliver Lake
Oliver Lake is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer and poet. He is known mainly on alto saxophone but also performs on soprano saxophone and flute....
.
In the 1970s, Smith studied ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
. He played again with Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
as well as recording with Derek Bailey's Company
Company (free improvisation group)
Company was an ever changing collection of free improvising musicians. The concept was devised by guitarist Derek Bailey in order to create challenging and artistically stimulating combinations of players who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to work together.At various times Company has...
. In the mid-1980s, Smith became Rastafarian
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
and began using the name Wadada. In 1993, he began teaching at Cal Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, a position he currently holds. In addition to trumpet and flugelhorn, Smith plays several world music instruments, including the koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
, kalimba, and atenteben
Atenteben
The atenteben is a bamboo flute from Ghana. It is played vertically, like the European recorder, and, like the recorder, can be played diatonically as well as chromatically. Although originally used as a traditional instrument , beginning in the 20th century it has also been used in contemporary...
(Ghanaian bamboo flute). He has also taught courses in instrument making. His compositions often use a graphic notation
Graphic notation
Graphic notation is the representation of music through the use of visual symbols outside the realm of traditional music notation. Graphic notation evolved in the 1950s, and it is often used in combination with traditional music notation...
system he calls "Ankhrasmation," which he developed in 1970.
In 1998, Smith and guitarist Henry Kaiser
Henry Kaiser (musician)
Henry Kaiser is an American guitarist and composer.Recording and performing prolifically in many styles of music, Kaiser is a fixture on the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He is considered a member of the "first generation" of American free improvisers.-Biography:His grandfather was the...
released Yo, Miles! a tribute to Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
's lesser-known 1970s electric period. On this album, Smith, Kaiser and a large cast of musicians recorded cover versions and original compositions inspired by Miles's electric music. The follow-ups Sky Garden (released by Cuneiform
Cuneiform Records
Cuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
in 2004) and Upriver (released in 2005) were recorded with a different cast of musicians. Both line-ups featured Michael Manring
Michael Manring
Michael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
on bass.
Smith's Golden Quartet (with whom he's released two albums) features Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
on drums, Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (composer)
Anthony Davis, better known as Tony Davis , is an American composer, jazz pianist, and student of gamelan music.-Biography:...
on keyboards, and Malachi Favors
Malachi Favors
Malachi Favors was a noted American jazz bassist best known for his work with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
on bass. During the 2000s, Smith recorded albums for John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
's Tzadik, as well as Pi Recordings
Pi Recordings
Pi Recordings is a jazz record label whose motto is "dedicated to the innovative". Pi was founded in 2001 by Seth Rosner. He was joined as partner by Yulun Wang in 2002.- Discography :*Pi 01: Everybodys Mouth's a Book - Henry Threadgill...
. In 2008, he and his Golden Quartet released a DVD entitled Freedom Now.
As leader
- 1972: Creative Music - 1 (Kabell)
- 1974: Reflectativity (Kabell)
- 1976: Song of Humanity (Kabell)
- 1978: Divine LoveDivine Love (album)Divine Love is an album by American jazz trumpeter and composer Leo Smith recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested Core Collection....
(ECM) - 1978: Mass on the World (Moers)
- 1979: Budding of a Rose (Moers)
- 1980: Go in Numbers (Black SaintBlack Saint/Soul NoteBlack Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:...
) - 1980: Spirit Catcher (NessaNessa Records-Discography:*n-1 Lester Bowie - Numbers 1 & 2 *n-2 Roscoe Mitchell - Congliptious...
) - 1981: Akhreanvention (Kabell)
- 1982: Human Rights (Kabell)
- 1983: Procession of the Great Ancestry (Nessa)
- 1983: Rastafari (Boxholder)
- 1985: If You Want the Kernels, You Have to Break the Shells (FMP)
- 1995: Kulture JazzKulture JazzKulture Jazz is an album by American jazz trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith recorded in 1993 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM) - 1996: Tao-Njia (TzadikTzadik RecordsTzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
) - 1997: Golden Hearts Remembrance (Chapchap)
- 1997: Prataksis (Ninewinds)
- 1998: Condor, Autumn Wind (Wobbly Rail)
- 1999: Light Upon Light (Tzadik)
- 2000: Reflectativity (Tzadik)
- 2000: Golden Quartet (Tzadik)
- 2001: Red Sulphur Sky (Tzadik)
- 2002: The Year of the Elephant (Pi)
- 2002: Luminous Axis (Tzadik)
- 2003: Organic Resonance (Pi)
- 2004: Lake Biwa (Tzadik)
- 2004: Saturn, Conjunct the Grand Canyon in a Sweet Embrace (Pi)
- 2005: Snakish (LeoLeo RecordsLeo Records is an English jazz record label, which releases Russian jazz in addition to material from American and British musicians.Leo Records was founded in 1979 by Leo Feigin , a Russian immigrant to Britain...
) - 2006: Compassion (Meta/Kabell)
- 2007: Wisdom in Time (Intakt)
- 2008: Tabligh (CuniformCuneiform RecordsCuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
) - 2009: America (Tzadik)
- 2009: Spiritual Dimensions (Cuneiform)
- 2010: The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer with Ed BlackwellEd BlackwellEd Blackwell was an American jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana, known for his extensive work with Ornette Coleman....
(Kabell) - 2011: Heart's Reflections (CuniformCuneiform RecordsCuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
)
As sideman
With Muhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard Abrams
Muhal Richard Abrams is an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the Free jazz medium. Abrams compresses both contemporary and traditional ideas into lean, elegant pieces.- Biography :Abrams attended DuSable High School in Chicago...
- Young at Heart/Wise in TimeYoung at Heart/Wise in TimeYoung at Heart/Wise in Time is the second album led by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Delmark label in 1974 and features Abrams a solo piano composition and accompanied by Leo Smith, Henry Threadgill, Lester Lashley and Thurman Baker...
(DelmarkDelmark RecordsDelmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
, 1974)
With Marion Brown
Marion Brown
Marion Brown was a jazz alto saxophonist and ethnomusicologist. He is most well known as a member of the 1960s avant-garde jazz scene in New York City, playing alongside musicians such as John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and John Tchicai...
- Geechie Recollections (Impulse!Impulse! RecordsImpulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
, 1973)
With Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
- 3 Compositions of New Jazz (Delmark, 1968)
- Anthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton (album)Anthony Braxton is an album by Anthony Braxton released in 1969 on the BYG Actuel label. It features performances by Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Leo Smith and Steve McCall. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states "The music performed.....
(BYG ActuelBYG ActuelBYG Actuel was a French record label specializing in free jazz. The label also released a small number of non-jazz recordings by artists such as Musica Elettronica Viva, Freedom and Gong.-History:...
, 1969)
With Henry Kaiser
Henry Kaiser (musician)
Henry Kaiser is an American guitarist and composer.Recording and performing prolifically in many styles of music, Kaiser is a fixture on the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He is considered a member of the "first generation" of American free improvisers.-Biography:His grandfather was the...
- Yo, Miles! (Shanachie, 1998)
- Sky Garden (Cuneiform, 2004)
- Upriver (Cuneiform, 2004)
With Frank Lowe
Frank Lowe
Frank Lowe was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist and composer.Born and brought up in Memphis, Tennessee, Lowe took up the tenor saxophone and then moved to San Francisco...
- The FlamThe FlamThe Flam is an album by American jazz saxophonist Frank Lowe recorded in 1975 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "The very explorative and rather emotional music holds one's interest throughout...
(Black Saint, 1975)
With Matthew Shipp
Matthew Shipp
Matthew Shipp is an American pianist, composer and bandleader.Shipp was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and began playing piano at six years old. His mother was a friend of trumpeter Clifford Brown....
- Matthew Shipp's New Orbit (Thirsty Ear, 2001)
With Spring Heel Jack
Spring Heel Jack
Spring Heel Jack is an English electronic music group consisting of John Coxon and Ashley Wales.Formed in 1993 in London, England, Spring Heel Jack began their career exploring drum and bass and jungle, but have since branched out into free improvisation and jazz, collaborating with many acclaimed...
- The Sweetness of the Water (Thirsty Ear, 2004)
With John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
- 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 850th Birthday Celebration Volume 8-Personnel:*John Zorn – alto saxophone*Susie Ibarra – drums *Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet...
(Tzadik, 2003) - The Unknown MasadaThe Unknown Masada-Track listing:# "Kinyan" - 4:50# "Olamim" - 3:48# "Vehuel" - 5:32# "Shofetim" - 3:02# "Partzuf" - 4:22# "Zarach" - 6:57...
(Tzadik, 2003)
External links
- Homepage of Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith
- A Fireside Chat With Wadada Leo Smith by Fred Jung Posted: 2003-11-29
- Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith - Sky Garden (Review) - Published in The Music Box, July 2004, Vol. 11, #7
- FMP releases
- Art of the States: Wadada Leo Smith Bardsdale (1997–1998)
- Tawaf from 2003's "Organic Resonance" on Pi RecordingsPi RecordingsPi Recordings is a jazz record label whose motto is "dedicated to the innovative". Pi was founded in 2001 by Seth Rosner. He was joined as partner by Yulun Wang in 2002.- Discography :*Pi 01: Everybodys Mouth's a Book - Henry Threadgill...
- Solo performance July 2000 at SASSAS sound. concert archives