We are pleased to welcome Dr. Wadada Leo Smith to Comparing Domains of Improvisation for his presentation on Create, Its Philosophy and Practice in Creative Music.
Speaker
Wadada Leo Smith, composer, improviser, trumpeter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Wadada Leo Smith was born in Leland, Mississippi, and his musical life began in high school concert and marching bands. At the age of thirteen, he became involved with the Delta Blues and other music traditions. Wadada Leo Smith is one of the most acclaimed creative artists of his times, both for his music and his writings. For the last five decades, Dr. Smith has been a member of the historical and legendary AACM collective. He distinctly defines his music as “Creative Music.” Dr. Smith’s diverse discography reveals a recorded history centered around important issues that have impacted his world. He has been on the faculty of the following institutions: The University of New Haven (1975-’76), The Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY (1975-’78), and Bard College (1987-’93). From 1994, he was on the faculty at The Herb Alpert School of Music at California Institute of the Arts. There he was the director of the African-American Improvisational Music program. Dr. Smith retired from CalArts in 2013.
Students and faculty are welcome. Please contact the group organizer, Marc Hannaford ([email protected]), for additional details and to receive papers in advance.
