Primary Instrument: Saxophone
A virtuoso saxophonist and composer, Howie Smith does not easily fit into a single category. As a performer he has worked with musicians, organizations and composers as diverse as Lester Bowie, John Cage, the Cleveland Orchestra, Mark Dresser, Mike Nock, Elvis Presley, Vernon Reid, Double Bass Drum, and the Tone Road Ramblers. His recorded performances range from the big bands of Phil Wilson and Frank Mantooth to the Australian quartet Jazz Co/op to saxophone concertos by Edward Miller, Salvatore Martirano and David Baker. He has also presented numerous concerts and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia.
His catalogue of compositions includes works for conventional big bands and combos; for string, wind and percussion ensembles; for electronics; and for mixed media. Recordings of his work may be heard on the Albany, New World Records, Philips Phonogram, Polydor, and Sea Breeze labels, and his music for jazz ensembles is available through the Doug Beach/Kjos, Kendor Music Inc., Otama Music and Walrus Music Publishing.
Awards:
Howie has received two Fulbright grants, was awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize for Music in 1985, and has been the recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Ohio Arts Council on seven different occasions. He has twice served as co-chair of both the Jazz Fellowships and the Music Overview panels of the National Endowment for the Arts, and has been associated with Yamaha as an artist/clinician since 1971.“... a highly distinctive voice, whose free solos have a strong melodic progression and an insinuating rhythmic feeling.” (London Jazz Journal)
“... an electrifying and versatile soloist.” (New York Times)
“... a rawly, emotional voice.” (Cadence)
“... Smith really knows his way around a tenor sax.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
“Howie Smith’s alto and soprano playing remains instantly recognizable. If empty virtuosity is the great blight of jazz, the combination of virtuosity with vitality and imagination is one of its boons. Smith has these qualities in abundance.” (Sydney Morning Herald)
Second Door on the Left
Sea Breeze SB-3019
1995
Tracks: Second Door on the Left; Comango; Crazy Red; Who Will Sing?; Wallaby One-Step; Moon Dance; Pteroman Isle; Erikiology; In Passing
Personnel: Howie Smith: alto and soprano saxophones, synthesizer; Steve Erquiaga: guitar, MIDI guitar; Bob Bowman: bass; Ed Soph: drums.
With Other Artists
Romanian Jazz
Various Artists
Sonar Kolectiv 132
2006
One Dream
Helen Welch
BigWOW BWP25
2006
Charles McPherson with Strings: A Tribute to Charlie Parker
Charles McPherson
Clarion Jazz #90501
2005
Volume 2
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1510
2005
Volume 5
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Troppe Note/Cambria TNC/Cambria CD-1513-14
2005
The Music of Edwin London
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Albany Records Troy 595
2003
A Miracle
Frank Mantooth
Sea Breeze Jazz SB-2094
1999
The Morgan Powell Jazz Album
Morgan Powell
Chicago Lakeside Jazz CLJ-605-2
1999
The New American Scene
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Albany Records Troy 298
1998
The New American Scene II
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Albany Records Troy 303
1998
Choices
The Jazz Unit
Go-Bop 21459
1998
O, O, O, O, That Shakespeherian Rag
Salvatore Martirano
New World Records 80535-2
1998
Morgan Powell
Morgan Powell
New World Records 80499-2
1996
Auricles Apertures Ventricles
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
New World Records 80477-2
1995
Sophisticated Lady
Frank Mantooth
Sea Breeze SB-2074
1995
FoRay FroMorgan
Morgan Powell
Einstein Records 009
1995
Sound Encounters
The Cleveland Chamber Symphony
GM Recordings GM2039CD
1993
Dangerous Precedent
Frank Mantooth
Sea Breeze SB-2046
1993
Music for Winds
Midwest Composers
Opus One CD 154
1993
Speechless
Jack Schantz Quartet
Azica AJD-2201
1993
Music of Cleveland Composers
Various Artists
Truemedia Records, D90121
1993
Works
William Cavanaugh
Cyborg 81848
1992
Per-se-vere
Frank Mantooth
Optimism OP CD 3229
1990
Suite Tooth
Frank Mantooth
Optimism OP CD 3217
1989
Live at Peabody's Cafe
The Cleveland Jazz All-Stars
North Coast Jazz NCJ-1
1982
Live and Cookin'
Phil Wilson
Outrageous Records #3.K
1977
Live at the Basement
Jazz Co/op
44 Label 6357 706 (distributed by Philips Phonogram)
1976
After the Applause
Ross Ryan
EMI Australia EMA 313
1975
Only the Beginning
Kerrie Biddell
EMI Australia EMA 314
1975
Jazz Co/Op
Jazz Co/op
Philips Phonogram 6641 225
1974
L’s G. A.
Salvatore Martirano
Polydor 245001
1969
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