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Damon Smith
Double bass, Improviser. Born Damon Jesse Smith on oct. 17th, 1972 in Spokane, WA. Did "freestyle bmx" bicycle riding from age 13 to 23. Started music in 1991, under the influence of Mike Watt (fIREHOSE & the minutemen) on fender bass. Lead several punk/art rock combos until 1994. Upon receiving Peter Kowald's landmark lp "Duos;Europa," Damon sold the fender bass and concentrated solely on double bass and free music. Damon's music is rooted in the tradition of "free jazz", with most of his professional experience coming from work with the orchestras and small ensembles of alto saxophonist marco eneidi, however, he is very interested in all the manifestations of free improvised music (jazz rooted or not!) around the world. His live and recorded efforts focus on continuing and expanding the possibilities of the double bass and "instant composition." His instrumental study focuses on classical technique and etudes, while using jazz as reference for pizzicato tone. Damon performs as a soloist and in every imaginable grouping all the way to large orchestra. He also collects recordings, specifically creative music, jazz and double bass music, and feels this is an important influence on his work ("my roots are in my record player"- evan parker).
Damon studied music theory/20th century harmony with his mother Bobbie Smith (a classically trained pianist/composer). He had initial double bass lessons with Bill Douglass, next with Lisle Ellis for one year, then classical studies with Kristin Zerneg and jazz with Michael Jones. He also had single lessons/attended workshops with; Barre Phillips, Stefano Scodanibbio, John Lindberg, Mark Dresser, Peter Kowald, William Parker, Ken Filiano, Mike Watt, David Holland, Joëlle Léandre, Bertram Turetzky and brass players Bobby Bradford, Butch Morris & Wadada Leo Smith and saxophonists Wolfgang Fuchs and John butcher. He continues semi-frequent studies with Prof. Turetzky.
Damon has Collaborated with dancers, actors and poets including Poet Jack Brewer, scoring actor William Whaley's adaptation of Henry Miller's "Tropic of Capricorn" for actor and double bass and the west coast premier of the final collaboration of Merce Cunningham and John Cage; "Ocean," Highly Influenced By modern visual arts, Damon studied painting for a short time with Tom Schultz (see cover of bpa 002) This has resulted in a notation system called "Color Architecture," dedicated to him.
Damon has performed with; Peter Brötzmann, Cecil Taylor, the "Deep Space Posse" (led by Tyrone Hill & Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra), Peter Kowald, Glenn Spearman, Frank Gratkowski, Joëlle léandre, Jeb Bishop, John Tchicai, Andrew Voit, Douglas Ewart, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Eugene Chadbourne, Joe Biaza, Biggi Vinkeloe, Elliot Sharp, Wolfgang Fuchs , Luc Houtkamp, Peter Van Bergen, Mike Watt, Chris Cutler, William Hooker, Miya Masaoka, J.A. Deane, Sebi Tramantana, Gino Robair, Tony Bevan , Alan Silva, Boris Hauf, Tim Perkis, Jackson Krall, Eddie Gale, Gianni Gebbia, Fred Frith, Jaap Blonk, Jon Raskin, Phill Gelb, Marco Eneidi, Donald Robinson, Oluyemi Thomas, Prince Lasha, Henry Kaiser, John Butcher, Hugh Livingston and many others.
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Stefan Keune / Sandy Ewen / Damon Smith: Two Felt-Tip Pens: Live At Moers
by Mark Corroto
This recording from the Moers Festival in May 2023, Germany, is dedicated to the late Hans Schneider. Bassist and label curator Damon Smith has made it a lifelong practice to seek out and collaborate with his musical heroes, a list that includes Jaap Blonk, Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Kaiser and Vinny Golia. Naturally, that list also honors pioneering bassists like Joëlle Léandre, Peter Kowald, Bertram Turetzky--and Schneider, who passed away in 2024. Joining Smith for this performance are American ...
Continue ReadingRoscoe Mitchell: One Head Four People
by Fran Kursztejn
"I'm always trying to take what's there and, in the end, make it sound like nothing's missing from it," Roscoe Mitchell relates in a 2016 interview, in relation to his string of European solo concerts, yet the statement is just as relevant to the jazz giant's newest studio release, One Head Four People, as any other. The recording comes just as Mitchell's 2014 performance (released on ugEXPLODE, 2021) A Railroad Spike Forms the Voice celebrates its ten year anniversary, and ...
Continue ReadingJason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Volumes & Surfaces
by Glenn Astarita
Jason Stein, a saxophonist with a penchant for pushing boundaries, brings his avant-garde sensibilities and razor-sharp technique to the fore in Volumes & Surfaces. Known for his dexterous command of the bass clarinet, Stein has made a name for himself in the jazz world with his innovative approach and fearless improvisation. His contributions to this album are no exception, as he seamlessly blends precision with spontaneity, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience. Stein's work with the trio, alongside bassist ...
Continue ReadingGregorio / Smith / Bryerton: The Cold Arrow
by Mark Corroto
Maybe the surprise release of 2021 was the trio recording Room Of The Present (Fundacja Słuchaj!). Adventurous bassist Damon Smith and percussionist Jerome Bryerton have had a long working relationship as a duo, in various groups and settings, large and small. Adding the clarinetist and composer Guillermo Gregorio was quite the revelation. The trio is back with a new studio session, ten tracks of which only two were composed. Still, one might get the impression that all were taken from ...
Continue ReadingJason Stein / Marilyn Crispell / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: spi-raling horn
by Glenn Astarita
spi-raling horn by these genre-destroying avant-garde jazz artists is a whirlwind journey through the vast landscapes of jazz, where the boundaries between tradition and innovation blur into a kaleidoscope of ultrasonic exploration. This album is not just a collection of tracks, but a sonic crusade led by a quartet of virtuosos who wield their instruments like sorcerers conjuring spells. From the start, listeners are transported into a realm where bass clarinet giant Jason Stein with legendary piano great ...
Continue ReadingJeb Bishop, Pandelis Karayorgis, Damon Smith: Duals
by Mark Corroto
The Jeopardy answer is “three to the power of 2." If you buzzed in fast enough with “what is the album Duals“? You would be correct. The three musicians, trombonist Jeb Bishop, bassist Damon Smith, and pianist Pandelis Karayorgis recorded these 33 duos in Boston between the fall of 2021 and the summer of 2022. While we promised there would be no math, the equation 'three to the power of 2' actually equals three separate discs each with duo combinations ...
Continue ReadingJason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Volumes & Surfaces
by Mark Corroto
Damon Smith might be the hardest working man in show business. Free-jazz show business, that is. If there is a performance or recording somewhere in the States or Europe, there is a very good chance his double bass is in attendance. You name an improvising artist and he's recorded with them, from Roscoe Mitchell to Joe Morris, Jaap Blonk, Joëlle Léandre, Peter Kowald, Sandy Ewen, Burton Greene, Joe McPhee, Fred Van Hove and Henry Kaiser. The list is practically endless. ...
Continue ReadingNate Wooley / Scott R. Looney / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter - Scowl (Ugexplode, 2011) ****a1/2
Source:
Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels
By Paul Acquaro I wonder what would make music like 'Scowl' of interest to the 'lay' listener? I suppose this is a question that has been asked in varying ways many times before, and no doubt will continue to be asked as members enter and (dare I say?) leave the fold of avant-garde jazz. I don't pretend to have an answer, nor will I even posit a theory, all I can offer is that It is a compelling listen that ...
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Damon Smith Mini East Coast Tour Oct. 23, 25, 27
Source:
Michael Ricci
OVER-NITE SENSATION: Autumn Edition Venue: Plays and Players Theater, 3rd Floor 1714 Delancey Place Philadelphia, PA presented with Plays and Players Friday, October 23, 8pm Damon Smith - solo double bass + many other short sets Lucky Old Souls Sunday, October 25, 2009 6:30pm - 11:00pm Moonstone Arts Center (aka Robin's Books) 110 S. 13th St., 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA ...
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Free Jazz Alto Summit Fei/Feichtmair/Adams/Dijkstra at The Uptown
Source:
All About Jazz
"Low Bows" Solo Concerts Tonight at Royce Gallery in San Francisco
Source:
All About Jazz
Low Bows at 8pm as part of ROOM at Royce Gallery in San Francisco, CA Z Programs ROOM Summer 2008 continues with an evening of electric and acoustic bowed strings of the bass clef persuasion: Zo Keating (cello & electronics) Alex Kelly (cello & electronics) Damon Smith (contrabass) Merlin Coleman (cello & voice) Each will do a short solo set, and Pamela Z will join all of them in an ensemble finale. Royce Gallery ...
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Two Damon Smith Concerts in Chicago: 5/31 and 6/3
Source:
All About Jazz
WHO: “Matter and Memory" Trio Damon Smith - double-bass Paul Hartsaw - Tenor and Soprano Sax Jerome Bryerton - Drums and selected cymbals
WHEN: Saturday 5/31 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: House Concert @ 3224 W. North Ave Apt# 3 Chicago, IL 60647 Contact phone: (312)343-2712
WHO: Damon Smith - double bass Guillermo Gregorio - alto saxophone, clarinets ...
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Weasel Walter/Damon Smith East Coast Tour
Source:
ugEXPLODE
Infamous punk-jazz drummer Weasel Walter (known for his work with the Flying Luttenbachers) and firebrand bassist Damon Smith will be doing a series of dates in New York and Philedelphia to promote their CD release “Revolt Music" by the Weasel Walter Quartet. The music of the quartet is solidly grounded in the fire and firmament of '60s free jazz, but the tour will put them in a number of different settings including an all-acoustic improvised sets as a duo and ...
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Damon Smith
Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Born: October 17, 1972
