Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 18, 1941 in Leland, MS

 

Wadada Leo Smith is a renowned American composer, trumpeter, and multi-instrumentalist who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Born on December 18, 1941, in Leland, Mississippi, Smith grew up in a musical family and began playing the trumpet at the age of thirteen. He was deeply influenced by the blues and gospel music of his hometown, as well as the jazz and classical music he heard on the radio. Smith's early musical education was informal, and he learned to play by ear. However, he later studied music theory and composition at the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago and the Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He also studied with renowned jazz musicians such as trumpeter Lester Bowie and pianist Muhal Richard Abrams. In the 1960s, Smith became involved in the avant-garde jazz scene in Chicago and New York City. He played with a number of experimental jazz groups, including the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) and the Creative Construction Company. He also began to develop his own unique style of playing, which combined elements of free jazz, classical music, and world music. In the 1970s, Smith began to focus more on composition and started to incorporate elements of improvisation into his works. He formed his own ensemble, the Creative Orchestra, which featured a large ensemble of musicians playing his original compositions. The group released several albums, including "Kulture Jazz" and "Reflectativity." In the 1980s, Smith continued to explore new musical territories and began to incorporate electronic instruments and computer technology into his compositions. He also began to collaborate with other musicians and artists, including dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones and poet Ishmael Reed. In the 1990s, Smith's work began to receive more recognition, and he was awarded several prestigious grants and fellowships, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. He also began to receive commissions from major orchestras and ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In the 2000s, Smith continued to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music and experimented with new forms and structures. He released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Tabligh" and "Ten Freedom Summers," which was a four-disc set that explored the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. Throughout his career, Smith has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 2013, he was awarded the Doris Duke Artist Award, which recognizes outstanding artists in the fields of jazz, theater, and dance. He was also awarded the DownBeat Critics Poll's Composer of the Year award in 2017 and 2018. Smith's music has been described as "a unique blend of jazz, classical, and world music that defies categorization." His compositions are known for their complex structures, intricate harmonies, and use of improvisation. He has been praised for his ability to create music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally powerful. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Smith is also a respected educator and has taught at several universities, including the California Institute of the Arts and the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA.

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