Tom C. Smith

I love jazz because it crept into my consiousness throughout my childhood. I heard it all from dixieland jazz up to but not including be-bop. My stepfather blasted his 33 rpm vinyl through the night every night. For me it was sleep-teaching. In my early twenties I first really listened to Django of my own volition. Since I was a fledgeling guitarist, he defined what jazz meant for me more than anyone else. I am not a jazz guitarist in my own opinion. But jazz informs every musical thought I have.