Born in Chicago, 1971. Joe attended the Cincinnati Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music studying with Vernel Fornier, Jimmy Lovelace, John Riely and Jeff Williams. During the nineties, Joe lived in New York City where he played with such musicians as Reid Anderson, Jason Lindner, John Stetch and Ben Waltzer. In the spring of 2002, his depute disc “Happy” was released to critical aclaim and in 2003, Joe presented his new group, The Melodic Workshop, playing in the Barcelona Jazz Festival and later recording his second disc “Melodic Workshop” (Fresh sound) which features Bill McHenry, Gorka Benitez, Guillermo Klein, Chris Lightcap and Jorge Rossy. Joe has been a featured side man on the recordings of John McNeil, Arthur Kell, Laura Simo, Ila Cantor, Ryan Blotnick, Juan DeDiego, Dave Mitchell, Fredrik Carlquist, Juliane Heinemann, Brandon Miller (Sarsaparilla) and Michele Faber. He has toured extensively in Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Hungary and Romania. In 2008 Joe formed the Asociación Libre Orkesta, a free form Big Band that he also directs which performs music inspired by Poetry and projected Images. The A.L.O’s first self titled disc was released in 2010 by the Columbian label Festina Lente Records. The Orkesta also took part in the summer festival Jazz al Parque in Bogotá, Columbia performing for more than 10,000 people. Joe is currently living in Barcelona, Spain.

Discography

2011

“Everyone Here Seems So Familiar” Sarsaparilla (Revolver)
“Playing Cool” Fredrik Carlquist (FCJazz)

2010

“ALO” Asociación Libre Orkesta (Festina lente records)

2009

“Here we go again.” Michelle Faber (Rambla)
“Aren’t you glad to be here” Juliane Heinemann
“Dear Ancestors” Sarsaparilla (Solaris empire)

2008

“Jazz affair” Carlquist and Mitchell (blau records)
“Everything Forgets” Ryan Blotnick (Songlines)
“Victoria” Arthur Kell Quartet (BJU records)

2007

“Music needs you” Ryan Blotnick (Songlines)
“Panza de Burro” Juan DeDiego (Errabal)
“Everness” Rocio Faks (Fresh Sound)

2006

“Mother Nebula” Ila Cantar (Fresh Sound)

2005

“Ijinna” The Arthur Kell Quartet (Fresh Sound)
“free session” The Sergi Servent Quartet (Fresh Sound)

2004

“Melodic Workshop” Joe Smith Sextet (Fresh Sound)

2003

“This way out” The John McNiel Quartet (Omnitone)
“Senza Fine” Laura Simo (Sachmo)

2002

“Happy” Joe Smith Quintet (Fresh Sound)

2000

“2 suites” Initium Ensemble (Balkan)

1999

“Fatima” Fatima (BGN)

Nacido en Chicago, Joe Smith realizó sus estudios de música en el Cincinnati Conservatory y el Manhattan School of Music de Nueva York. Posteriormente estudió con los maestros Vernel Fornier, Jimmy Lovelace, John Riley y Jeff Williams. Durante diez años Joe estuvo en Nueva York donde ha tocado con músicos como Reid Anderson, Jason Lindner, John Stetch y Ben Waltzer. En 2002 estrenó su disco Happy (Fresh Sound New Talent). El disco fue muy bien acogido por la crítica. En Noviembre de 2003, Joe ha hecho una gira por España con su grupo The Melodic Workshop con Bill McHenry, Gorka Benitez, Guillermo Klein, Chris Lightcap y Jorge Rossy. Han tocado en el Festival de Jazz de Barcelona y han grabado el disco Melodic Workshop (Fresh Sound) que ha salido en el Verano de 2004. Joe ha colaborado como ”side man” en las grabaciones de John McNeil, Arthur Kell, Laura Simo, Ila Cantor, Ryan Blotnick, Juan DeDiego, Dave Mitchell, Juliane Hienamann, Brandon Miller(Sarsaparilla) y Michele Faber. En los últimos años, joe ha hecho muchas giras por europa con diferentes grupos tocando en Alemania, Suecia, Dinamarca, Polonia, Húngaro, Romania y Colombia. En el 2008, Joe ha formado y es director de un grupo grande de 14 músicos que se llama El Asociación Libre Orkesta. El primer disco del grupo ha salido en el verano de 2010. El Orkesta ha estado parte del Festival “Jazz al Parque” en Bogotá, Colombia donde han tocado endirecto por mas de 10,000 mil personas. Joe vive en Barcelona, España.