Bill Smith (Canadian musician)
Encyclopedia
William Ernest Smith (born 12 May 1938) is a Canadian
writer
, editor
, record producer
, saxophonist, and clarinetist of English
birth. He has served as the editor of CODA
magazine since 1976 and is a co-founder of Sackville Records
, a Canadian record label that specializes
in jazz.
, Smith studied aeronautical design
at the North Staffordshire Technical Institute
and played drums and trumpet in England before moving to Toronto
in 1963 when he became the art director of CODA
, a jazz music magazine. In 1967 he was promoted to the role of co-publisher of CODA with John Norris
. He succeeded Norris as editor of the magazine in 1976. In 1968 Smith and Norris co-founded Sackville Records
, is a Canadian record label specializing in jazz music.
While working at CODA, Smith began seriously studying and performing jazz as a saxophonist and clarinetist in Toronto. He developed a modest, conversational style and began performing in freely improvised settings in the mid-1970s, first with pianist Stuart Broomer
and percussionist John Mars
in the jazz trio
"Broomer, Mars & Smith". He then performed with his own jazz trio, the Bill Smith Ensemble (BSE) from 1980–1989. Other members of the BSE included violin
ist David Prentice and double bass player David Lee. The BSE recorded several albums, both as a trio and with guests Leo Smith
and Joe McPhee
.
Smith performed in London in April 1983 as “ Four Nights of Canadian Improvised Music” with fellow Canadian saxophonist, Maury Coles, starting at the Seven Dials Jazz Club
, Covent Garden, run by Matthew Wright of Ray’s Jazz Shop. They were accompanied by local musicians Paul Rutherford (trombone), Paul Rogers (bass) and Nigel Morris (drums). This was followed by gigs at Club Extempore, Haverstock Hill, Club Improv, Conway Street and the New Merlin’s Cave. Other musicians involved included Jim Dvorak, Roger Turner, Ollie Blanchflower, Marcio Mattos, Eddie Prevost, Elton Dean and Harrison Smith (no relation).
In addition to his work with the BSE, SMith performed as a sopranino saxophonist in Zes Winden (1986–8). He was also co-producer with Ron Mann
of a feature-length documentary about the October Revolution in Jazz, Imagine the Sound
(1981), and published a collection of his jazz photography and reminiscences, Imagine the Sound, no.5: The Book (Toronto, 1985). In 1989 Smith moved the editorial offices of CODA to Hornby Island
, northwest of Vancouver
, and thereafter played saxophone and drums locally. The magazine's business office remains in Toronto, under Norris.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, saxophonist, and clarinetist of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
birth. He has served as the editor of CODA
CODA (magazine)
CODA is a Canadian magazine devoted to covering all things related to jazz. The magazine produces 6 publications a year on a bi-monthly basis...
magazine since 1976 and is a co-founder of Sackville Records
Sackville Records
Sackville Records is a Canadian music record label. Although the label has been used to issue material in various styles, the company particularly specializes in jazz music. Most of the company's releases have been newly recorded in Canada....
, a Canadian record label that specializes
in jazz.
Biography
Born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Smith studied aeronautical design
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
at the North Staffordshire Technical Institute
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
and played drums and trumpet in England before moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1963 when he became the art director of CODA
CODA (magazine)
CODA is a Canadian magazine devoted to covering all things related to jazz. The magazine produces 6 publications a year on a bi-monthly basis...
, a jazz music magazine. In 1967 he was promoted to the role of co-publisher of CODA with John Norris
John Norris (publisher)
John Norris was a British-born Canadian publisher and editor. Norris founded CODA magazine.Born in the United Kingdom he later moved to Canada where he opened up a jazz club. In 1962 Norris founded CODA magazine. He was editor until 1976 when Bill Smith took over...
. He succeeded Norris as editor of the magazine in 1976. In 1968 Smith and Norris co-founded Sackville Records
Sackville Records
Sackville Records is a Canadian music record label. Although the label has been used to issue material in various styles, the company particularly specializes in jazz music. Most of the company's releases have been newly recorded in Canada....
, is a Canadian record label specializing in jazz music.
While working at CODA, Smith began seriously studying and performing jazz as a saxophonist and clarinetist in Toronto. He developed a modest, conversational style and began performing in freely improvised settings in the mid-1970s, first with pianist Stuart Broomer
Stuart Broomer
Stuart Broomer is a Canadian editor, music critic, pianist, writer, jazz historian, and composer. He is a former editor with CODA magazine and currently works as an editor at Coach House Books...
and percussionist John Mars
John Mars
John Franklyn Mars is the son of Forrest Mars, Sr., and grandson of Frank C. Mars, founders of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated...
in the jazz trio
Jazz trio
The term "piano trio" in jazz usually refers to a group comprising a pianist, a double bass player and a drummer. The pianist is usually considered the leader of these trios, and trios are usually named after their pianist...
"Broomer, Mars & Smith". He then performed with his own jazz trio, the Bill Smith Ensemble (BSE) from 1980–1989. Other members of the BSE included violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist David Prentice and double bass player David Lee. The BSE recorded several albums, both as a trio and with guests Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
and Joe McPhee
Joe McPhee
Joe McPhee is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist born in Miami, Florida, a player of tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, the trumpet, flugelhorn and valve trombone...
.
Smith performed in London in April 1983 as “ Four Nights of Canadian Improvised Music” with fellow Canadian saxophonist, Maury Coles, starting at the Seven Dials Jazz Club
Seven Dials Jazz Club
The Seven Dials Jazz Club opened its doors in 1980 as a venue for live music in Covent Garden, London. It hosted a range of artists and styles of jazz and began to attract a regular audience...
, Covent Garden, run by Matthew Wright of Ray’s Jazz Shop. They were accompanied by local musicians Paul Rutherford (trombone), Paul Rogers (bass) and Nigel Morris (drums). This was followed by gigs at Club Extempore, Haverstock Hill, Club Improv, Conway Street and the New Merlin’s Cave. Other musicians involved included Jim Dvorak, Roger Turner, Ollie Blanchflower, Marcio Mattos, Eddie Prevost, Elton Dean and Harrison Smith (no relation).
In addition to his work with the BSE, SMith performed as a sopranino saxophonist in Zes Winden (1986–8). He was also co-producer with Ron Mann
Ron Mann
Ronald "Ron" Mann is a Canadian documentary film director focusing primarily on aspects of Canadian and American popular culture. He does most of his work through his company Sphinx Productions, while also running a film distribution company on the side called 'FilmsWeLike'. Mann has also put...
of a feature-length documentary about the October Revolution in Jazz, Imagine the Sound
Imagine the Sound
Imagine the Sound is a 1981 Canadian documentary film about free jazz, directed by Ron Mann. It features interviews with and musical and dramatic performances by pianist Cecil Taylor, saxophonist Archie Shepp, trumpeter Bill Dixon and pianist Paul Bley. The film has been digitally restored and was...
(1981), and published a collection of his jazz photography and reminiscences, Imagine the Sound, no.5: The Book (Toronto, 1985). In 1989 Smith moved the editorial offices of CODA to Hornby Island
Hornby Island
Hornby Island of British Columbia, Canada, is a Northern Gulf Island parallel with Vancouver Island's Comox Valley.A small community of 1,074 residents is distributed across the island. The island is culturally distinctive as it was the site of a large immigration of American draft dodgers during...
, northwest of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and thereafter played saxophone and drums locally. The magazine's business office remains in Toronto, under Norris.