Tommy Smith

(b.1967) is a leading light in European jazz, first and foremost as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation, and latterly as the founder and current director of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO). These career-defining achievements are framed by his status as an international recording artist; a composer and arranger of extraordinary ambition; and not least, as a jazz educator.

His prolific career began in earnest when, aged only 16, he recorded his first album Giant Strides. He was rewarded with a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, an experience that has shaped his affirmative approach to jazz. Since then, he has made twenty-eight solo albums as a leader for Blue Note, Linn and his own label Spartacus Records, and toured France, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey, USA, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Malta, Bratislava, Romania, Ireland, Faroes, Austria, Hong Kong, China, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Israel, Tunisia, Romania, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, Sicily, Iceland, Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Poland, Czech Republic, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Hungary, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Bahamas, Australia, Korea and Japan.

Smith has also earned the regard, support and friendship of the many respected jazz figures with whom he has collaborated and created great jazz. They include, but are not limited to, Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny, Barron, Arild Andersen, John Scofield, Dizzy Gilliespie, Jaco Pastorious and Trilok Gurtu. His tenure with the SNJO has seen critically acclaimed performances and recordings of programmed and commissioned works including hugely popular treatments of Ellington, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Mozart, Weather Report and Miles Davis.

Smith is founder and director of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra & The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra. Head of Jazz/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Holds 3 honorary doctorates: Heriot-Watt, Glasgow Caledonian & Edinburgh Universities & a RCS Professorship. He won five British Jazz Awards (1989, 1996, 2002, 2012, 2017), BBC Heart of Jazz Award (2008), Scottish Jazz Expo Award(2009), Lord Provost Music Award (2009), & seven Scottish Jazz Awards Woodwind (2009); Educator (2011, 2012); Big Band (2009, 2011, 2012); and the seventh Scottish Jazz Award for album of the year in ; Parliamentary Jazz Award (2012, 2016).