Jazz@Eastman – Past, Present and Future is a weekly radio series featuring Eastman School of Music jazz performances through the years. The program can be heard at 8 p.m. each Wednesday on Jazz90.1, and feature performances as well as works by Eastman faculty, students, and alumni. The series is a collaboration between Eastman and Jazz90.1 and is underwritten in part by RG&E.
Each hour-long program is hosted and co-produced by trumpeter Herb Smith. Jazz@Eastman: Past, Present, and Future has been curated by Jeff Campbell, chair of the Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Department, who selected archived recordings of Eastman jazz concerts and other works for the broadcasts.
Each of the 26 programs in the series will be repeated to create a year-long season of broadcasts.
Herb Smith – Host
Herb Smith is the third trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a graduate of The Eastman School of Music and began playing in the orchestra after he graduated in 91’. He works with students through the Young Audiences of America and Rochester City School District Artist in Residence program. He also travels all over the upstate NY area doing workshops and presentations for many Arts Organizations dealing with classical music, and the accessibility to this music for non musicians, traditional music, from many countries around the world, and jazz music, emphasizing it’s importance as one of the only original American music forms.
Herb also plays many gigs with his jazz quartet, is a frequent substitute player for the Chautauqua, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras. Furthermore he is trumpet instructor for the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music, his alma mater, and has a trumpet studio that he teaches out of his home. He has played with many notable artists, including, Al Jareau, Natalie Cole, Doc Severenson, The Ojays and has played on many commercial jingles recorded in Rochester NY. Other ventures include composing music for silent films, and writing musical arrangements for local bands in the area.
Herb is also the cofounder of a new smooth jazz group named Thornwood. Thornwood is a collaboration between Herb and Marcus Robinson, a guitarist, playing original compositions and smooth jazz arrangements. Their first CD in titled “Just A Little Sly” was greatly received and a new CD will be coming soon.