•About•
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Breeze Smith

Drums, percussion, electronic live-looping ~ improvisational drummer, instrument designer/builder, visual artist/designer & sound sculptor. Completed several commissions for sculptures, paintings, designs, and soundtracks.

photo credit - Carl Royce

Breeze-ology~

I started the interaction with other musicians at an early age in the midwest. First recording was in 1966 with a local band. My growing interest in experimental/improvised music and my ever-expanding search for new sounds led me to incorporate my metal sound sculptures into my drum/percussion universe.

A guest-artist performance led to my first sound sculpture commission. Completed a musical instrument design/exchange with Stephen Wright, one of his ceramic Udu drums for my invention: the “WrightALimba.” Tracks from my ‘04 solo recording, “SightSoundingBackDrops+8,” were used in the soundtrack of the documentary film, “The Real Rasta.” 

My journey of musical expression has gifted me with opportunities to create with so many, I’m humbled to mention: Stan Smith, Scott Heustis, David Ornette Cherry, Justo Almario, Ralph Miles Jones lll, Roberto Miranda, Neneh Cherry, Rod Poole, Hannibal Lakumbe, Dianne McIntyre, Roger Hines, Dwight Trible, Trevor Ware, John Beasley, Billy Childs, Charles Owen, Maggie Brown, Eric Barber, Tony Green, Andre Caporaso, Thomas Hamasu, Eddie Ray & Co, Willie Pooch Blues Band AND duos with my wife, dancer/vocalist Cheryl Banks-Smith. 

photo credit: Patricia Bonita

Imagination

I'm so grateful for my years in Europe, where I collaborated with artists from all over this blue marble, taking in so many colors, textures, and grooves. It taught me ways to incorporate a sound from my imagination and/or influences, guided by a new exposure to yet another global treasure of music.