Paul Smoker
Encyclopedia
Paul Alva Smoker is an American jazz
trumpeter.
Smoker grew up in Davenport, Iowa
, and moved to Chicago
to play professionally. He worked there in the 1960s, playing with Bobby Christian among others. He took his doctorate at the University of Iowa
in 1974, and taught at Coe College
from 1976 to 1990, as well as for shorter periods at the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa
, and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Smoker worked with musicians such as Anthony Braxton
, Gregg Bendian
, Damon Short, Randy McKean, and Phil Haynes. He was a member of Joint Venture, who recorded for Enja Records
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His records issued on CIMP in the 1990s feature sidemen such as Vinny Golia
, Ken Filiano
, and Steve Salerno.
Outside of jazz, Smoker is also involved in the performance of contemporary classical music
, in his university capacities and with the SOMA
ensemble. He has worked out of upstate New York
since 1990.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter.
Smoker grew up in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, and moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to play professionally. He worked there in the 1960s, playing with Bobby Christian among others. He took his doctorate at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1974, and taught at Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
from 1976 to 1990, as well as for shorter periods at the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
, and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Smoker worked with musicians such as Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, Gregg Bendian
Gregg Bendian
Gregg Bendian is a jazz percussionist and composer, primarily a vibraphonist. He was born on July 13, 1963 in Englewood, New Jersey.Bendian studied under Noel DaCosta. He has played and recorded with Nels Cline, Pat Metheny, Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Steve Hunt, Gary Lucas and Cecil Taylor...
, Damon Short, Randy McKean, and Phil Haynes. He was a member of Joint Venture, who recorded for Enja Records
Enja Records
Enja Records is a German jazz record label based in Munich, Germany. It was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971....
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His records issued on CIMP in the 1990s feature sidemen such as Vinny Golia
Vinny Golia
Vinny Golia is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist specializing in woodwind instruments. He performs in the genres of contemporary music, jazz, free jazz, and free improvisation....
, Ken Filiano
Ken Filiano
Kenneth S. Filiano is an American jazz double bassist. He is associated with the modern free improvisational scene....
, and Steve Salerno.
Outside of jazz, Smoker is also involved in the performance of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
, in his university capacities and with the SOMA
Soma
Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
ensemble. He has worked out of upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
since 1990.
Discography as leader
- Mississippi River Rat (Sound Aspects, 1984)
- Alone (Sound Aspects, 1986)
- Come Rain or Come Shine (Sound Aspects, 1986)
- Genuine Fables (Hathut RecordsHathut RecordsHathut Records is a Swiss record label specialising in jazz and contemporary classical music.Founded in 1975 by Werner X. Uehlinger to document the work of saxophonist / trumpeter Joe McPhee...
, 1988) - Halloween '96 (CIMP, 1996)
- Standard Deviation (CIMP, 1998)
- Large Music, Vol. 1 (CIMP, 2000)
- Large Music, Vol. 2 (CIMP, 2001)
- Mirabile Dictu (CIMP, 2001)
- Brass Reality (Nine WindsNine WindsNine Winds is an American jazz record label, founded in 1977 by Vinny Golia.Golia initially founded the label to record West Coast jazz musicians, including himself...
, 2002) - Duocity in Brass & Wood (Cadence Jazz, 2003)
- Halloween, the Sequel (Nine Winds)