Joe Smith - Drums

I was born in Galesburg, Illinois, a small town west of Chicago, but spent my formative years in New York City playing with and learning from many of the best musicians the scene had to offer. After moving to Barcelona in 2000, I was lucky enough to release two albums as a leader featuring my own compositions. Happy (2002) and Melodic Workshop (2004) which features Bill McHenry, Gorka Benitez, Guillermo Klein, Chris Lightcap and Jorge Rossy. In 2008 I formed the Asociación Libre Orkesta, a free-form Big Band which performs improvised music inspired by my poetry and projected images and which I also conduct.

My project, build-i-n-g features Liz Kosack on synthesizers and piano and Andrew D'Angelo on Alto Saxophone. Our debut albums Muladhara Rising and Feel Honey (2022) presents my compositions mixing forward-moving rubato melodies and improvisations above pulse without meter grooves. For more information, please visit our website www.build-i-n-g.com

My new trio features Bill McHenry on Tenor Saxophone and Masa Kamaguchi on Double bass and explores my compositions  in a more straight ahead jazz setting.  

I am also blessed to have the opportunity to perform as a sideman in many wonderful and diversely-styled groups.

Tags