Wadada Leo Smith

Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (born December 18, 1941) is an American trumpeter and composer, working primarily in the field of creative music.

He played in various R&B groups and, by 1967, became a member of the AACM and co-founded the Creative Construction Company, a trio with Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton.

In the 1970s, Smith studied ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University.

He played again with Anthony Braxton, as well as recording with Derek Bailey's Company.

His compositions often use a graphic notation system he calls "Ankhrasmation", which he developed in 1970.

In 1971, Smith formed his own label, Kabell.

He also formed another band, the New Dalta Ahkri, with members including Henry Threadgill, Anthony Davis and Oliver Lake.

In the mid-1980s, Smith became Rastafarian and began using the name Wadada.

In 1993, he began teaching at Cal Arts, a position he held until 2014.

In addition to trumpet and flugelhorn, Smith plays several world music instruments, including the koto, Kalimba, and atenteben (Ghanaian bamboo flute).

He has also taught courses in instrument making.

In 1998, Smith and guitarist Henry Kaiser released Yo, Miles!, a tribute to Miles Davis's then-lesser-known 1970s electric period.

On this album, Smith, Kaiser and a large cast of musicians recorded cover versions and original compositions inspired by Miles's electric music.

During the 2000s, Smith recorded albums for John Zorn's label Tzadik, as well as Pi Recordings.

The follow-ups Sky Garden (released by Cuneiform in 2004) and Upriver (released in 2005) were recorded with a different cast of musicians.

Both line-ups featured Michael Manring on bass.

Smith's Golden Quartet (with which he has released several albums) originally featured Jack DeJohnette on drums, Anthony Davis on keyboards, and Malachi Favors on bass.

After several iterations, the Golden Quartet now features Pheeroan akLaff on drums, John Lindberg on bass, and Davis on piano.

In 2008, he and his Golden Quartet released a DVD entitled Freedom Now.

Smith has lived in New Haven, Connecticut for many years, a city where he helped create a prominent culture for creative music.

With Muhal Richard Abrams

With Marion Brown

With Anthony Braxton

With Creative Construction Company

With Andrew Cyrille

With Leroy Jenkins

With Henry Kaiser

'''With Bill Laswell

With Frank Lowe

With Maurice McIntyre

With Roscoe Mitchell

With Matthew Shipp

With Spring Heel Jack

With John Zorn

He was one of three finalists for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music for Ten Freedom Summers, released on May 22, 2012.

Smith was born in Leland, Mississippi, United States.

He started out playing drums, mellophone, and French horn before he settled on the trumpet.