Will Smith’s New Orleans Jazz Cats feat. Carlos Childe

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Image courtesy of Jamboree Jazz.

Traditional jazz trumpeter and vocalist Will Smith was born in New Orleans. His relationship with music started at the age of seven at Preservation Hall, where he would go daily with his sister to listen to trumpeter John Simmons. He grew up surrounded by the musicians who shaped the musical identity of the city, learning from them and continuing to be his main source of inspiration. His style evokes great figures of the genre such as Louis Armstrong, Sing Miller, Sweet Emma Barret and Alvin Alcorn.

He began playing in The Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band led by renowned guitarist Danny Barker, from which musicians such as Leroy Jones, Dr. Michael White, and Shannon Powell emerged, and later formed the group The Chosen Few with the legendary Tuba Fats.  

He is a regular in formations such as Harold Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Doc Paulin, The New Birth Brass Band, Palmetto Bug Stompers, The Storyville Stompers and Pinstripe Brass Band. He has toured the world with them and participated in several recordings. Will Smith has earned his own name in New Orleans jazz.

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