Warren Smith
Warren Smith is an American jazz percussionist, known as a contributor to Max Roach's M'boom ensemble and leader of the Composer's Workshop Ensemble
Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a musical family; his father played saxophone and clarinet with Noble Sissle and Jimmy Noone, and his mother was a harpist and pianist. He studied clarinet under his father from age four. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1957, then took a master's in percussion at the Manhattan School of Music in 1958.
One of his earliest major recording dates was with Miles Davis as a vibraphonist in 1957. He found work in Broadway pit bands in 1958, and also played with Gil Evans that year. In 1961 he co-founded the Composers Workshop Ensemble, a New York-based jazz composition and performance ensemble which released two albums for Strata-East Records. In the 1960s Smith accompanied Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Lloyd Price, and Nat King Cole; he worked with Sam Rivers from 1964-76 and with Gil Evans again from 1968 to 1976.
In 1969 he played with Janis Joplin and in 1971 with Tony Williams Lifetime. He was also a founding member of Max Roach's percussion ensemble, M'Boom, in 1970. Through the 1970s Smith played with Andrew White, Julius Hemphill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, Count Basie, and Carmen McRae. Other credits include extensive work with rock and pop musicians and time spent with Anthony Braxton, Charles Mingus, Henry Threadgill, Van Morrison, and Joe Zawinul.
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Album Review
- Blue Reality Quartet! by John Sharpe
Extended Analysis
Album Review
- The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony by Mark Corroto
- Théâtre Garonne, 2008 by Giuseppe Segala
- The Spell by John Sharpe
- Théâtre Garonne, 2008 by Mark Corroto
- Old News Borrowed Blues by Lyn Horton
- Old News Borrowed Blues by Jerry D'Souza
- Old News Borrowed Blues by Raul d'Gama Rose
- Natural/Cultural Forces by John Sharpe
May 07, 2011
Bones and Tones: Hip Percussive Afro-Jazz
March 11, 2011
Makanda Project with Warren Smith Performing at Dudley Branch of Boston...
November 24, 2004
AllAboutJazz-New York Presents "1s & 2s: Music for Solo & Duo": Warren...
September 30, 2002
Roy Campbell, William Parker, Warren Smith and Joe McPhee At Kampo...