Warren Smith

“WIS ON MONK” is a unique DVD featuring the solo percussion work of Warren Smith. It features Warren in a studio setting playing seven Thelonious Monk tunes. There are also 9 original tunes by Warren Smith playing live in concert at his own loft in Manhattan, “Studio WIS”. As and extra bonus, there is a slide presentation of the percussion group “M’boom”, whom Warren is one of the founding members

Buy now with paypal or credit card only $20.00, the DVD "WIS On Monk"!!!!!
Buy now with paypal or credit card only $20.00, the DVD "WIS On Monk"!!!!!
Born in Chicago Illinois, Warren I. Smith entered the professional music world at the early age of fourteen, working in various family bands in the late 1940’s and later in the mid-50’s with Captain Walter H. Dyett’s concert and marching bands. Warren Smith has firm roots grounded in the Chicago south side music scene. Warren is a part of an essential element in the development and definition of Afro-American music.
Warren relocated to New York City in 1957 and completed his Masters of Music at the Manhattan School of Music in 1958. That same year brought his first jazz gig in New York City with Kenny Burrell at Minton’s Playhouse. W.I.S. played Birdland in 1959 with Gil Evans, and from 1960-1972 worked regularly with Johnny Richards’ Bigband. It was around that time that Warren began extensive work both in the studios and on Broadway.
Already an articulate voice within the jazz community, Warren Smith found himself deep inside the Motown scene throughout the 1960’ and 70’. Being the unsung percussionist on the scene with Bernard Purdie, Warren played on all the Gladys Knight and the Pips’ 45 hit singles; performed on numerous occasions with Dionne Warwick; did several tours, recording sessions and TV dates with Harry Bellafonte; Backed up Nat King Cole on his week summer tour of New England, 1964; played the R n R Shows with Murray the K. in Brooklyn; toured with Barbra Streisand throughout the U.S. in 1965; worked on the ABC New York staff orchestra 1964-67 - including the Jimmy Dean Show and the Less Crane/Nippsy Russell Show; recorded on the only collaborative album done by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell; musical director of Janis Joplin in 1969- playing the Ed Sullivan Show, the San Francisco Ice Palace and her only European tour; recorded, toured and did live TV performances with Aretha Franklin from 1965-1978, including a performance at the 1971 Montreaux Jazz festival, which he also played with Tony Williams Lifetime EGO that same year.
Concurrent with his extensive Motown and studio work, Warren Smith began to teach at Adelphi University in 1969 and later at the State University of New York in Old Westbury from 1971-1996. Never loosing sight, Warren has remained a prominent percussionist and drummer within the jazz world. Performing, touring and recording with every progressive from Charles Mingus to Miles Davis, From Muhal Richard Abrams to Sam Rivers, Max Roach, M’Boom, Jabbo Ware, David Murray, Sonny Sharock, Anthony Davis and many other masters of the music.