Show Info
Thursday, May 21, 2015
8:30pm
NO COVER
Bio
At the tender age of 5, Gerald Smith was introduced to the drums and by 10 years old he played his first professional gig as a lead vocalist and drummer. This accelerated beginning became a catalyst for his career. Gerald has played with several different bands throughout his career with varying styles such as, Funk, R&B, Rock, Country, Latin, Gospel and Jazz.
Born in the South and raised on the West Coast, Gerald attended Central Arizona College on a track and music scholarship. After touring with the college ensemble, he formed an R&B group in Arizona and began performing in clubs. After 15 years of local gigs, an opportunity to work as an engineer/studio manager in Trinidad arose. While in Trinidad, Gerald worked with a number of top-named artists such as: Izzy Stradlin of Guns N Roses, Toni Tony Tone’, Kamiko Yamashita of Japan, Kassav of Sony France and many others. He also joined the group Michael Boothman and Kysofusion with RCA jazz, and they were the opening act for many artists such as Al Jarreau, George Duke, Wynton Marsalis, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Cassandra Wilson, and also performed with George Howard, Toni Tony Tone’ and Helen Baylor in Trinidad. Upon his return to the US, Gerald joined the smooth jazz group Indigo City for a few years and then formed Jazzsmith. He has performed in many jazz festivals with the most notable being the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Jazzsmith’s most recent project is titled “Jazzsmith Live and Unedited”. It is a compilation of his smooth jazz percussive styles and the smooth melodies from over the years.
Gerald Smith is also a recording, mixing and mastering engineer. He also has ample experience as a front of house engineer for live performance groups such as Solo (produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis), Kelly Price, Tony Terry, Toni Tony Tone’, Ron Kenoly and many others.
Among all the accomplishments and accolades Gerald has garnered over the years, designing an instrument is his highest achievement to date. With the help of Alternate Mode, the makers of the DrumKAT®, and Pintech®, Jazzsmith has created an instrument that is unique in appearance and electrifying to experience. The instrument combines drumsticks and electronics using all percussion sounds, and even has the capability to replicate wind and stringed instruments also. No one has taken electronic drums to the level he exhibits and his promise is to delve even further into “E-Drumality” with each album he produces, without sacrificing quality.
All of his experience with instrumentation and engineering are useful because as a performing musician, he understands the importance of sound quality. This engineer/musical pioneer is a force to be reckoned with. From corporate functions where appearance and volume are crucial, to dinner engagements for that perfect ambience, and concerts for that high-energy in your face performance Jazzsmith is the perfect fit for your function and listening device!