LaDonna Smith
Encyclopedia
LaDonna Smith is an American avant garde musician from Alabama
(U.S.). She is a violinist, violist, and pianist. Since 1974 she has been performing free improvisation
al music with musicians such as Davey Williams
, Gunther Christmann, Anne Lebaron
, Derek Bailey, Eugene Chadbourne
, Misha Feigin, Michael Evans
, David Sait, Jack Wright
, John Russell
, Sergey Letov
, Toshi Makihara, Andrew Dewar and many other of the world's major improvisers. As a performer, she has toured the USA, Canada, Europe, including Russia and Siberia, China and Japan. Her music is documented on dozens of CD and LP recordings, including the obscure Say Daybew Records - of Fred Lane & the Debonaires. An active organizer, she produced numerous concerts in Alabama and the Southeast, including the Birmingham Improv Festival. She is an educator and serves on the Board of Directors of I.S.I.M., the International Society of Improvised Music. In 1976, LaDonna Smith co-founded TransMuseq Records, in collaboration with Davey Williams. In 1980, the improvisor magazine began as an extension of I.N., the Improvisor's Network, a grass-roots organization that attempted to connect improvising musicians across the USA, founded at that time in New York City. LaDonna is currently editor-in-chief and publisher of the improvisor (the international journal of free improvisation), which now exists on the web at "www.the-improvisor.com".
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(U.S.). She is a violinist, violist, and pianist. Since 1974 she has been performing free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
al music with musicians such as Davey Williams
Davey Williams (musician)
Davey Williams is an American free improvisation and avant-garde music guitarist. In addition to his solo work, he has been noted for his membership in Curlew and his collaborations with LaDonna Smith.-Biography:...
, Gunther Christmann, Anne Lebaron
Anne LeBaron
Alice Anne LeBaron is an United States composer and harpist.-Biography:Anne LeBaron holds a B.A. in music from the University of Alabama , an M.A. in music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook , and a D.M.A. from Columbia University...
, Derek Bailey, Eugene Chadbourne
Eugene Chadbourne
Eugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
, Misha Feigin, Michael Evans
Michael Evans
Michael James "Mickey" Evans is an English-born Irish former footballer. He spent the majority of his career at home-town club Plymouth Argyle, with notable success, including two Football League titles....
, David Sait, Jack Wright
Jack Wright
Jack Wright was the hero of a popular series of Victorian science fiction dime novels and story papers written by Luis Senarens, the so-called "American Jules Verne". A few stories are also credited to Francis W. Doughty...
, John Russell
John Russell (musician)
John Russell is an acoustic guitarist who has worked exclusively in the field of free improvisation since the 1970s. He has been active consistently during that time as a promoter of concerts of freely improvised music in London, providing hundreds of playing opportunities for both local and...
, Sergey Letov
Sergey Letov
Sergey Letov , born on September 24, 1956, is a Russian musician, known for improvisational style, and the founder of Pentagram recording label. He has collaborated with numerous music artists including his younger brother Yegor Letov.-Discography:...
, Toshi Makihara, Andrew Dewar and many other of the world's major improvisers. As a performer, she has toured the USA, Canada, Europe, including Russia and Siberia, China and Japan. Her music is documented on dozens of CD and LP recordings, including the obscure Say Daybew Records - of Fred Lane & the Debonaires. An active organizer, she produced numerous concerts in Alabama and the Southeast, including the Birmingham Improv Festival. She is an educator and serves on the Board of Directors of I.S.I.M., the International Society of Improvised Music. In 1976, LaDonna Smith co-founded TransMuseq Records, in collaboration with Davey Williams. In 1980, the improvisor magazine began as an extension of I.N., the Improvisor's Network, a grass-roots organization that attempted to connect improvising musicians across the USA, founded at that time in New York City. LaDonna is currently editor-in-chief and publisher of the improvisor (the international journal of free improvisation), which now exists on the web at "www.the-improvisor.com".
Discography
- Raudelunas Pataphysical Revue - Ron Pate & the Debonairs, Say Day-Bew, 1975
- Trans - Davey WilliamsDavey Williams (musician)Davey Williams is an American free improvisation and avant-garde music guitarist. In addition to his solo work, he has been noted for his membership in Curlew and his collaborations with LaDonna Smith.-Biography:...
, LaDonna Smith, Theodore Bowen, Timothy Reed, Jim Hearon, Transmuseq Records, 1977 - Armed Forces Day - The Blue Denim Deals With the Arms, Say Day-Bew Records, 1978
- Folk Music - Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
, Ted Bowen, Transmuseq Records, 1978 - 2000 Statues - Eugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneEugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
, Parachute, 1978 - School - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
, Eugene Chadboune, Parachute, 1978 - Jewels - with Anne LeBaronAnne LeBaronAlice Anne LeBaron is an United States composer and harpist.-Biography:Anne LeBaron holds a B.A. in music from the University of Alabama , an M.A. in music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook , and a D.M.A. from Columbia University...
, Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
, 1979 - Velocity - with Andrea CentazzoAndrea CentazzoAndrea Centazzo is an Italian-born American percussionist and composer of minimal music. He acquired U.S. citizenship in 2000 and lives in Los Angeles, California....
, Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
, Transmuseq, 1979 - Direct Waves - with Davey Williams, Transmuseq, 1980
- USA Tour - with Andrea CentazzoAndrea CentazzoAndrea Centazzo is an Italian-born American percussionist and composer of minimal music. He acquired U.S. citizenship in 2000 and lives in Los Angeles, California....
, Davey Williams, Ictus, 1980 - Alchemical Rowdies - with Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
, Pippin Barnett, Danny Finney, Paul WatsonPaul Watson (musician)Paul "Watty" Watson is an American cornetist, guitarist, and songwriter living in Richmond, Virginia. He is best known for his work with The Orthotonics, FSK, Sparklehorse, and Patrick Phelan...
, Transmuseq, 1982 - White Earth Streak - with Davey Williams, Gunter Christmann, Torsten Müller, Transmuseq, 1983
- Locales for Ecstasy - with Davey Williams, Cinnie Cole, Transmuseq, 1987
- Dix Improvisations - with Davey Williams, Victoriaville (Victo), 1989, compilation
- Earbook, Vol 3 - with Davey Williams, (Rastacan), 1991, compilation
- Eye of the Storm - Solo Violin & viola, Transmuseq, 1992
- Transmutating - with Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
, Transmuseq, 1993 - A Confederacy of Dances Vol 2 - Live Recordings of the Roulette Series (Einstein, 1994)
- Dice (She Says) - Elise Kermani compilation (Ishtar Records), 1994
- Harbinger - with Barbie Williamson, Album Cover Photography Melissa SpringerMelissa SpringerMelissa Springer is an American photojournalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Aperture, Elle, Forbes, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Southern Living, The Village Voice and House & Garden.Springer was one of the first...
, (Coyoteway Productions), 1994 - Dice 2 (She Says) - Elise Kermani compilation (Ishtar Records), 1996
- Birmingham Improv Festival Recordings - compilation (Transmuseq), 1996
- The Parachute Years - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
(Tzadik), 1997 - White Earth Streak - Christman, Muller, Smith, Williams 1981-83 (Unheard Music), 2000
- Rare Earth - solo, mixed-electronic viola & violin, Table of the ElementsTable of the ElementsTable of the Elements is an American record label. It concentrates on re-released and specially recorded experimental music, including many of the great avant garde musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries — John Cale, Tony Conrad and La Monte Young, for instance — as well as...
, 2004 - Yokel Yen - LaDonna Smithwith Misha Feigin, guitar & balalaika, Transmuseq, 2004
- Waters Ashore - LaDonna Smith, Misha Feigin, Dave LiebmanDave LiebmanDave Liebman is an American saxophonist and flautist. In June 2010, he received a NEA Jazz Masters lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.-Biography:...
, Jason Foureman (Transmuseq), 2006 - Ambient Visage - LaDonna Smith with Susan AlcornSusan AlcornSusan Alcorn is an American composer, improvisor, and pedal steel guitarist active in contemporary music and free improvisation.-Life:...
pedalsteel guitar, Transmuseq, 2006 - Floating Bridges - LaDonna Smith with Misha Feigin, guitar, Transmuseq, 2008
- Deviant Shakti - LaDonna Smith with Michael EvansMichael EvansMichael James "Mickey" Evans is an English-born Irish former footballer. He spent the majority of his career at home-town club Plymouth Argyle, with notable success, including two Football League titles....
, percussion, Transmuseq, 2009 - Time Delayed Free Improvisations - LaDonna Smith, David Sait, Glen HallGlen HallGlen Hall or Glenn Hall may refer to:*Glen Hall, Indiana, an extinct town*Glen Hall , , South African*Glenn Hall , Canadian ice hockey goaltender*Glenn Hall , Australian...
, Gino RobairGino RobairGino Robair is an American composer, improvisor, drummer, and percussionist. In his own work , he plays prepared/modified percussion, analog synthesizer, ebow and prepared piano, theremin, and bowed objects...
(aPPRISe), 2009
External links
- "LaDonna Smith | Jazz | Viola", All About Jazz, musician bio.
- Article from Village Voice
- [ Biography] from Allmusic Guide
- "Viola Player LaDonna Smith Kicks Off Improvised Music Festival", Seattle Post Intelligencer, April 25, 1997. Google News Mirror
- "String Trek | Floating Bridges", All About Jazz, review of Floating Bridges, April 20, 2008.
- "Transmuseq is Back", Signal To Noise, June 2006.
- LaDonna Smith, Wire, issue #67, 1989.
- LaDonna Homepage, at www.the-improvisor.com.
- "Raudelunas Pataphysical Revue", nubis oxis quorum, at craignutt.com.
- "Both Kinds of Music", Steve Loewy, All Music Guide, EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews.
- "Dix Improvisations Victoriaville" François Couture, All Music Guide, EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews, 1989.
- "DABLUS", from Deep Sea Divers, Novisibirsk, 1995.
- "Saturnalia Fest", Boston, 2000
- "Perfect Sound Forever", article/interview, 2003.
- "High Zero Festival", highzero.org, bio, 2005.
- "Bagatellen", review/archive, 2005.
- "LaDonna", documentary article, Sergey Letov, Moscow, Russia.
- Profile, All About Jazz, teacher profile.
- November 2005 Calendar, Sequenza21/Classical Music Weekly, 11/12/2005.
- "Ladonna Smith Eye of Storm", review of Eye of the Storm, 2009.
- Review of Deviant Shakti, Foxy Digitalis, 2009.
- "Board of Directors", International Society of Improvised Music, 2008–10.
- Untitled article, New Music Box, New Music Center, 2009.