Biography of Mike Smith

READ THE ARTIST FEATURE ON MIKE

Mike Smith, (the Northwest’s premier saxophone exponent) is one of the prestigious graduates from Macca’s LIPA talent factory. He graduated with a first class honors degree in 2005 and proceeded to tour the planet as session man par-excellence for super-talents such as Steve Winwood, Purple’s Ian Paice and new generation soulster/rapper Craig David. Not bad for a kid that took up the instrument to escape math’s lessons on a Tuesday.

Mike, who dwells in Liverpool, can currently be seen blowing his horn with Europe’s premier Frank Zappa aficionados the mighty Muffin Men. His days off though rare are not just spent changing reeds or at the betting shop but in earnest completion of his debut solo album. As yet untitled it will feature the stylish signature playing of ‘Kimo Samba’. This exquisite jazz soul travelogue glows in its Sanbornesque LA groove. It’s funkier counterpart part the cheekily entitled ‘The Sex Pest’ is a joy for the hips and the ears white soul fusion hasn’t felt so good since the Average White Band conquered Studio 54.

This twenty something epoch making jazzer is conjuring up images of a music era where instrumental dexterity and melodic finesse graced the airwaves along side singer/songwriters and beery rock outfits. Some of music’s iconic moments have glistened in the bell of the sax from Miles Davies to Baker Street. Any genre is stronger when heralded by youth; Mike Smith is just beginning his journey to the top.