Wadada Leo Smith


Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith is an American trumpeter and composer, working primarily in the field of creative music. He was one of three finalists for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music for Ten Freedom Summers, released on May 22, 2012.
WWW wadadaleosmith.com

Biography

Smith was born in Leland, Mississippi, United States. He started out playing drums, mellophone, and French horn before he settled on the trumpet. He played in various R&B groups and, by 1967, became a member of the AACM and co-founded the Creative Construction Company, a trio with Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton. In 1971, Smith formed his own label, Kabell. He also formed another band, the New Dalta Ahkri, with members including Henry Threadgill, Anthony Davis and Oliver Lake.
In the 1970s, Smith studied ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. He played again with Anthony Braxton, as well as recording with Derek Bailey's Company. In the mid-1980s, Smith became Rastafarian and began using the name Wadada. In 1993, he began teaching at Cal Arts, a position he held until 2014. In addition to trumpet and flugelhorn, Smith plays several world music instruments, including the koto, kalimba, and atenteben. He has also taught courses in instrument making. His compositions often use a graphic notation system he calls "Ankhrasmation", which he developed in 1970.
In 1998, Smith and guitarist Henry Kaiser released Yo, Miles!, a tribute to Miles Davis's then-lesser-known 1970s electric period. On this album, Smith, Kaiser and a large cast of musicians recorded cover versions and original compositions inspired by Miles's electric music. The follow-ups Sky Garden and Upriver were recorded with a different cast of musicians. Both line-ups featured Michael Manring on bass.
Smith's Golden Quartet originally featured Jack DeJohnette on drums, Anthony Davis on keyboards, and Malachi Favors on bass. After several iterations, the Golden Quartet now features Pheeroan akLaff on drums, John Lindberg on bass, and Davis on piano.
During the 2000s, Smith recorded albums for John Zorn's label Tzadik, as well as Pi Recordings. In 2008, he and his Golden Quartet released a DVD entitled Freedom Now.
Smith has lived in New Haven, Connecticut, for many years, a city where he helped create a prominent culture for creative music.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Compilations

  • Kabell Years: 1971–1979 – collects Creative Music – 1, Reflectativity, Song of Humanity, and Solo Music: Ahkreanvention along with additional material

As sideman

With Muhal Richard Abrams
With Marion Brown
With Anthony Braxton
With Creative Construction Company
With Andrew Cyrille
With Leroy Jenkins
With Henry Kaiser
  • Yo, Miles!
  • Sky Garden
  • Upriver
With Bill Laswell
  • The stone
With Frank Lowe
With Maurice McIntyre
With Roscoe Mitchell
With Matthew Shipp
With Spring Heel Jack
  • The Sweetness of the Water
  • Hackney Road with Pat Thomas and Steve Noble
With John Zorn