Damon Smith Explained

Damon Smith
Birth Name:Damon Jesse Smith
Birth Date:17 October 1972
Birth Place:Spokane, Washington
Genre:free jazz, free improvisation
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:double bass
Years Active:1990s–present
Label:Balance Point Acoustics

Damon Smith (born October 17, 1972) is an American free improvising bassist. He has worked with Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann, Marshall Allen, John Tchicai, Elliott Sharp, Chris Cutler, Fred Frith, Jim O'Rourke etc.

Biography

Smith spent his childhood in eastern Washington but moved to Oakland in the mid-1980s.[1] He took up bass in his late teens, inspired by the Minutemen's Mike Watt.[1] [2] His love of Minutemen got him to explore other bands on the SST Records label which led to his discovery of Henry Kaiser, Elliott Sharp and Saccharine Trust.[2] Smith credited Saccharine Trust's improvised live album Worldbroken with altering his views on punk rock, jazz, and free-form jamming.[3] Eventually Damon was fortunate enough to meet Kaiser and the two have collaborated for over twenty years including more than ten recordings together.[4]

Initially an electric bass player due to his love of Minutemen and Watt's followup band fIREHOSE,[4] Smith switched to double bass and began focusing on improvisation[4] inspired by Peter Kowald[1] and his album Duos:Europa[5]

Smith studied with Bill Douglas,[5] Lisle Ellis,[2] [5] Kristin Zerneg,[5] Bertram Turetsky[5] etc.

In 2001, Smith launched his own record label called Balance Point Acoustics.[5]

More recently, Smith has played with Weasel Walter in his Weasel Walter Quartet[3] and in Plane Crash which also includes Henry Kaiser.[6] The latter expanded to become Astral Plane Crash with the inclusion of Vinny Golia and Bob Moses.[6] In 2023 he toured the northeastern US playing in a trio with guitarist Joe Baiza and drummer Matt Crane.[7]

Smith has also collaborated with Werner Herzog on soundtracks to his documentary films Grizzly Man and Encounters at the End of the World.[8]

Discography

With Emergency String Quartet

With Alvin Fielder

With Vinny Golia

With William Hooker

With Henry Kaiser

With Weasel Walter

With others

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gilbert. Andrew. Free-Range Bassist . East Bay Express . April 8, 2014 . October 27, 2019.
  2. Web site: Cohan. Brad. Double Bassist Damon Smith is a Driving Force in Out-Jazz. Bandcamp. August 22, 2017. October 27, 2019.
  3. Web site: Farrar. Justin. Pagan Icons' Second Round. East Bay Express. April 26, 2006. October 12, 2019.
  4. Web site: Dansby. Andrew. Bassist Damon Smith's joint efforts produce performance gems. Houston Chronicle. November 13, 2013 . October 27, 2019.
  5. Web site: Couture. François. Damon Smith Biography by François Couture. AllMusic. October 27, 2019.
  6. Web site: Longley. Martin. Bassist Damon Smith Helps Steer Astral Plane Crash's Improv. DownBeat. September 7, 2018. October 27, 2019.
  7. Web site: 2023-07-25 . Post-Punk Legend The Joe Baiza Trio On Tour . 2024-05-02 . Arts Boston.
  8. Web site: Damon Smith (US). No Idea Festival. October 27, 2019.
  9. Web site: Hareuveni. Eyal. Alvin Fielder / David Dove / Jason Jackson / Damon Smith: From-To-From . All About Jazz. January 13, 2014 . November 15, 2019.
  10. Web site: Taylor. Derek. Alvin Fielder & Damon Smith – Song for Chico . Dusted Magazine. October 31, 2016. November 15, 2019.
  11. Web site: Taylor. Derek. Alvin Fielder/Frode Gjerstad/Damon Smith – The Shape Finds Its Own Space . Dusted Magazine. March 14, 2017. November 15, 2019.
  12. Web site: Damon Smith: Discography. AllMusic . November 15, 2019.
  13. Web site: Nearly Extinct bpaltd707, by Henry Kaiser / Steve Parker / Damon Smith / Chris Cogburn. Balance Point Acoustics. 2020-05-12.
  14. Web site: Acquaro. Paul. The Continuing Adventures of Damon Smith . The Free Jazz Collective. September 22, 2017. November 15, 2019.

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