Daniel Ian Smith and the Generations Ensemble

I’m so proud of this new and evolving ensemble that I began this summer (2019) to act as a vehicle to play my original music and some of my favorite compositions by my dear friends and respected composers. We’ve played several concerts already in Cambridge, Franklin and Boston, MA and will be featured in Burlington, Westmore and Stowe, VT later this summer. I’m excited to announce that a sextet version of this group with a latin twist will be headlining the Stowe Jazz Festival in Stowe, VT on Friday, September 6th! It’s been a great pleasure to work with all of these amazing players including cats like Fernando Huergo and Doug Johnson whom I’ve had the pleasure of calling my dear friends and musical brothers for many years now in addition to some of my former students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston who have become first call players on the scene including Vlade Guigni, François Chanvallon and Charles Lincoln. I see a new record in our future…stay tuned!

Daniel Ian Smith and the Latin Side of Billy Strayhorn

Featuring:

Daniel Ian Smith-saxophones

John Baboian-guitar

Russell Hoffman-piano

Fernando Huergo-electric bass

Steve Langone-drums/percussion

The Latin Side of Billy Strayhorn project was organized by Daniel Ian Smith as a vehicle to play the timeless compositions of the great American composer Billy Strayhorn in a contemporary world music setting. The idea was inspired and conceived in part by the great “Latin Side of….” recordings by trumpet player/composer Brian Lynch and trombonist Conrad Herwig. Organized in 2012, the group has been featured at the Durango International Jazz Festival (Durango, Mexico), Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Discover Jazz Festival (Burlington, VT), guest artists at the JEN Annual convention (San Diego, CA 2016), the Berklee College of Music, Mosesian Arts Center, Watertown, MA, Ryles Jazz Club, and other venues. The group has been recognized and supported by the Strayhorn Foundation and featured by them in honor of the Billy Strayhorn Centennial Celebration in 2015. A recording of the group is slated for release in late 2019. The band performs arrangements and adaptations of Strayhorn’s compositions in addition to original compositions written in the spirit of Billy Strayhorn.

Daniel Ian Smith and the New World Jazz Composers Octet

Featuring:

Daniel Ian Smith/Felipe Salles-woodwinds

Tony D’Aveni/Walter Platt-trumpet/flugelhorn

Tim Ray-piano, Keala Kaumeheiwa-acoustic bass,

Mark Walker-drums & cymbals, Ernesto Diaz-percussion