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jimmy smith
Trumpeter, Educator, 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,
and is a certified music teacher in Michigan.
He recently released his second album as a co-leader (with The Hughes/Smith
Quintet), EVER UP & ONWARD which was selected as one of AllMusic's Top Jazz
Albums in 2015!
“…inspired by the grand Motor City jazz scene of the 1950s and early ‘60s, these
players update and extend that tradition with excellent writing, arranging, and
playing for the 21st century.” Thom Jurek, All Music Guide April 2015
In addition to being a member of The Woodward Horns and The Will Sessions Band,
Jimmy is also a member of The Paul Keller Orchestra. An active freelance musician,
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, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, Johnnie Bassett, Ben Sharkey, Nicole New and
Bobby Murray.
Jimmy along with James Hughes hosts a jam session every Wednesday at Black
Lotus Brewing Co. in Clawson, MI. Weekly they feature a different themes and
rhythm sections each week. Previous themes include Hank Mobley's Soul Station,
the CTI years of Freddie Hubbard, The Brecker Brothers, Larry Young's Unity, The
music of Lee Morgan, and the music of Fred Wesley.