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Jimmy Smith

Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger

About Me

Detroit based trumpeter, composer, and arranger Jimmy Smith is among the most sought after musicians in the Midwest. He holds a Masters degree in jazz performance from The Aaron Copland School of Music, and is an alumnus of The Berklee College of Music as well as Wayne State University. Also a music educator, Jimmy has held numerous artists in residence positions in the NYC public schools. He is the director of the “Summer Rocks” and “Jazz Experience” programs at the Detroit School of Rock and Pop music, and is a certified music teacher in Michigan.

In addition to being a member of Will Sessions and The Woodward Horns, he is also a member of The Paul Keller Orchestra, Bobby Streng’s House Big Band, and The Motor City Jazz Orchestra. Active in the musical landscape, he has performed with a number of regional and national artists/acts, including The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Verve Pipe, Alexander Zonjic, Mitch Ryder, Stewart Francke, Jill Jack, Karen Newman, Alberta Adams, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, Johnnie Bassett.

Jimmy has performed with jazz legend Jimmy Heath, trumpeters Jim Rotondi, Michael Phillip Mossman, and saxophonist Antonio Hart, as well as The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, Marcus Belgrave, Wendell Harrison and Chico O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. During his tenure in NYC Jimmy also lead his own group - The Jimmy Smith Sextet.

Jimmy has recorded for film soundtracks as well as national and international television commercials. He has recorded with Melvin Davis, Will Sessions, Tunde Olaniran, The Motor City Horns, Stewart Francke, and many others.

In the spring of 2015 Jimmy released his second recording as a co-leader with The Hughes/Smith Quintet (Ever Up & Onward). With co-leader Saxophonist James Hughes, The HSQ is one of the busiest jazz groups in the region.