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Louis Smith
Louis Smith is a talented, but under recorded, straight-ahead bop trumpeter who led two dates in the '50s before retiring to teach at the University of Michigan and the nearby Ann Arbor Public School system. For most of his career, he remained a teacher, making a brief comeback in the late '70s before returning to education. It wasn't until the mid-'90s that he began a recording career in earnest, turning out a series of albums for the Steeplechase label. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Louis Smith began playing trumpet as a teenager. He graduated high school with a scholarship to Tennessee State University, where he studied music and became a member of the Tennessee State Collegians. Folllowing his college graduation, Smith did a little graduate work at Tennessee before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he studied with professor Clifford Lillya. At Michigan, he had opportunities to play with traveling musicians, including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. In January 1954, Smith was drafted into the Army, spending a little over a year and a half in his tour of duty. Once he left the Army in late 1955, he began teaching at the Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. While teaching at Booker T. Washington, Smith continued playing bop and hard bop in clubs, and was able to jam with Cannaonball Adderley, Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd, Lou Donaldson, Zoot Sims and Philly Joe Jones, among many others. In 1956, he made his recording debut as a sideman on Kenny Burrell's Swingin'. A year later, he had the opportunity to lead his own recording session for Tom Wilson's Boston-based label, Transition. He assembled a quintet featuring Cannonball Adderley (who performed under the pseudonym Buckshot La Funke), bassist Doug Watkins, drummer Art Taylor and pianists Duke Jordan and Tommy Flanagan, who alternated on the date. Transition went out of business before the label had the chance to release the record. Blue Note chief Alfred Lion purchased all the Transition masters and signed Smith to an exclusive contract, releasing the session as Here Comes Louis Smith. During 1958, the trumpeter played on two Blue Note sessions—Kenny Burrell's Blue Lights and Booker Little's Booker Little 4 and Max Roach—in addition to leading the date that became Smithville. That brief burst of activity turned out to be his only recording dates for 20 years. Smith moved back to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, where he taught at the University of Michigan and public schools. Between 1978 and 1979, he cut a pair of albums — Just Friends and Prancis'—before returning to teaching. A decade later, Smith began his recording career in earnest. After playing on Mickey Turner's Sweet Lotus Lips in 1989, he signed with Steeplechase and recorded Ballads for Lulu in 1990. He didn't return to the studio for another four years, but he did record two albums — Silvering and Strike up the Band — in 1994. The Very Thought of You appeared in 1995. A year later, Smith recorded I Waited for You, which was followed by There Goes My Heart in 1997. - AMG. Louis Smith had a stroke in 2005. SEMJA has published bulletins every now and then about his recovery. Louis has been working to regain his ability to speak with the help of several types of therapies. One of the more successful is music therapy, which he has been involved with for almost a year. Lars Bjorn, SEMJA President, recently had a chance to visit with Louis at one of his sessions at the University of Michigan Residential Aphasia Program and came away amazed at the ability of music to bring back some of Louis' lost skills. Louis' progress is no doubt due to his hard work; his previous musical ability; the skills of his musical therapist, Lynn Chenoweth, who sees him in one-on-one and group sessions; and the constant support provided by his wife Lulu.
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Louis Smith: Here Comes Louis Smith – 1957
![Read "Louis Smith: Here Comes Louis Smith – 1957" reviewed by Marc Davis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/Here_Comes_Louis_Smith.jpg)
by Marc Davis
I'm not a musical snob. I'm not a guy to drop obscure musical names to impress friends and hipsters. But when I come across a name that is undeservedly obscure, I don't mind shouting it out the window. So here's my shout for today: Louis Smith! Chances are you've never heard of Louis Smith. You should. He put out exactly two albums as a Blue Note bandleader, in 1957 and 1958, then disappeared for the next ...
read moreLouis Smith: Smithville – Blue Note 1594
![Read "Louis Smith: Smithville – Blue Note 1594" reviewed by Marc Davis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/220px-Smithville_(album).jpg)
by Marc Davis
Sometimes, thumbing through the old Blue Note catalogue, you wish for something brand new. Something not the usual Jimmy Smith--Lee Morgan--Lou Donaldson--Horace Silver. And then you find it and wonder, Who is this guy? And what ever happened to him?" Louis Smith is that guy. The trumpeter recorded exactly two Blue Note albums, one in 1957, one in 1958, and then disappeared for 20 years. After listening to the 1958 record, Smithville, I can only wonder ...
read moreThe Healing Power of Music: Can Jazz Repair a Damaged Brain? The case of trumpeter Louis Smith
![Read "The Healing Power of Music: Can Jazz Repair a Damaged Brain? The case of trumpeter Louis Smith" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/b2836c6aea80770e1e96bcdf362b247d.jpg)
by Hrayr Attarian
The title above is not an abstract statement or a philosophical question. Hence, what follows is not a speculative or metaphysical piece. It is an evaluation of the concrete, experimental data on the merits of music therapy in the treatment of brain injury, particularly one due to a stroke. A stroke or a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a sudden event, much like a heart attack, due to either an obstruction in the blood flow or hemorrhage in a specific region ...
read moreMusic Matters and the Blue Note Oddballs
![Read "Music Matters and the Blue Note Oddballs" reviewed by Greg Simmons](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/louis_smith_smithville.jpg)
by Greg Simmons
In its heyday, Blue Note records had a relatively stable roster of musicians. Leaders including saxophonist Hank Mobley, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Horace Silver and saxophonist Lou Donaldson all released lengthy strings of records during recording relationships that were measured in years. Some players, like bassist Paul Chambers, became de facto house musicians for the label, appearing on dozens of titles by a myriad of leaders. Musicians liked the sound that Blue Note delivered, and appreciated owner Alfred Lion's dedication ...
read moreLouis Smith: The Bopsmith
![Read "The Bopsmith" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/MI0002159878.jpg)
by C. Andrew Hovan
He’s one of the guys you probably never knew was still around. Trumpeter Louis Smith has become the stuff of legend, especially among Blue Note collectors who proudly cherish the two sets for the label that bear his name. In Michigan, where he currently resides, Smith is somewhat of a household name among jazz fans and he’s usually on hand for Detroit’s Ford International Jazz Festival. For many years now, the trumpeter has also been a favorite of SteepleChase producer ...
read moreLouis Smith: Soon
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by C. Andrew Hovan
Fast approaching his 70th birthday, trumpeter Louis Smith made a minor splash with the two Blue Note records he led back in the mid ‘50s, only to then vanish under the cover of jazz pedagogy. To be exact, from 1958 to 1978 Smith did not perform or record as a leader, but was active as an educator in the Detroit area. Then, SteepleChase head Nils Winther brought Smith back to the recording fold in ’78 and a steady stream of ...
read moreLouis Smith: Once In a While
![Read "Once In a While" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/b2836c6aea80770e1e96bcdf362b247d.jpg)
by C. Andrew Hovan
Trumpeter Louis Smith’s only major claim to fame has been two late ‘50s dates he cut for Blue Note. Then his propensity for musical pedagogy led him to the University of Michigan, where he spent many years quietly teaching and inspiring youngsters. Back in 1978, a renewed career as a recording artist came in the guise of a contract with the Danish SteepleChase label, briefly interrupted in the ‘80s by a return to teaching. Now, Smith finds himself retired and ...
read moreGuitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith's Debut Album “Portrait of MLS” Now Available!
![Guitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith's Debut Album “Portrait of MLS” Now Available!](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/media/thumb/3/c/0/5441abb1c4bf3a5ee81c550048546.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Jazz guitarist and composer Michael-Louis Smith has released his debut Portrait of MLS." The album consists of seven original compositions by Smith including the jazz/pop favorite Up in the Air" and features some of the leading jazz musicians in NYC including long time collaborators Stacy Dillard on tenor and soprano saxophone, Theo Hill on piano as well as new friends Gregg August on bass and Rudy Royston on drums. The album has been described as a propitious debut that announces ...
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Guitarist Michael-Louis Smith to Perform at the Iridium's New Faces After Midnight Series
![Guitarist Michael-Louis Smith to Perform at the Iridium's New Faces After Midnight Series](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/9053b783e09c2d3bbe99bf8a681dfb37.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Guitarist and composer Michael-Louis Smith's quintet will perform at The Iridium as part of Scobar Entertainment's New Faces After Midnight" series on Saturday May 1st. The group will appear in support of the new CD, Portrait of MLS (unreleased as of press time)and will include some of the best on the NYC jazz scene; Stacy Dillard on Saxophone, Jeremy Manasia on piano, Diallo House on bass and Jeremy Bean Clemons on drums. The new album has been described as a ...
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Jazz Guitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith to Release Debut Album Portrait of MLS
![Jazz Guitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith to Release Debut Album Portrait of MLS](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/media/thumb/3/c/0/5441abb1c4bf3a5ee81c550048546.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jazz guitarist and composer Michael-Louis Smith will release his debut album Portrait of MLS. The album, which be available to the public soon, consists of seven original compositions by Smith including the jazz/pop favorite Up in the Air" and features some of the best jazz musicians in NYC including long time collaborators Stacy Dillard on tenor and soprano saxophone, Theo Hill on piano as well as new friends Gregg August on bass and Rudy Royston on drums. The album has ...
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Jazz Guitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith to Perform April 10 & 24 at the Willamsburg Music Center
![Jazz Guitarist and Composer Michael-Louis Smith to Perform April 10 & 24 at the Willamsburg Music Center](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/media/thumb/3/c/0/5441abb1c4bf3a5ee81c550048546.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jazz guitarist and composer Michael-Louis Smith will bring two of his projects, The Left Ear Trio and the Michael-Louis Smith Quintet, to perform two sets of original music at Brooklyn's Williamsburg Music Center on Saturday April 10, and Saturday April 24. The Left Ear Trio will appear on April 10 for a live, recorded performance of brand new original music. The group features Michael-Louis Smith (MLS) on guitar, Andy Carballeira on Hammond organ, and Jon Fisher on drums. The ambitious ...
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