E. Doctor Smith, The Drummstick, Zendrum ZX
Celia DuBose, Bass and Vocals
Jack Wright, Guitars
Neil Mezebish - Flute, Alto, Tenor, Soprano and MIDI Saxophones
Members Auxillary:
Seth Elgart - Synthesizers, Samples
Chris Gulino, Banjo on “Futureboy”
Eric Dahlman -Trumpet/Jamman
Carlos Augustus, Guitar Synthesizer
Siobhan Canty, Vocals/Jamman
Neeta Raggowansi - Keyboards and Vocals
Sandip Burman - Tabla
Charles Unger - Tenor and Soprano Saxophones
Sam Peoples -Acoustic and Electric Piano, Samples
Mike Shea - Acoustic and Electric Bass
John Moremen - Electric Guitars, Guitar Synthesizer
Wilbur Rehmann - Saxophones
Peter Fox - Keyboards
Edo Castro - 7 String Bass, MIDI Bass
Influences
Billy Cobham, Bill Bruford, Futureman, Tony Williams, Weather Report, Jethro Tull, Miles Davis, Henry Kaiser, Youssou N'Dour, Brian Eno, Lenny White, Thelonius Monk, David Torn, Trilok Gurtu, Oregon, Frank Zappa.
Sounds Like
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Jethro Tull, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, King Crimson, Oregon.
“From the banjo-meets-Bruford tribal groove of “Futureboy” to the atmospheric sonic landscapes of “Girl of a Thousand Days,” E. Doctor Smith treads a musical road less traveled. His intrepid ensemble’s acid jazz explorations wander into every world musical nook and cranny, making this collection a trip well worth taking.”
-Stephen Bray, Producer
E. Doctor Smith began his musical journey as a teenager playing percussion in the District of Columbia Youth Orchestra and in Maryland’s Montgomery County Youth Orchestra. Inspired by the Miles Davis fusion bands of the mid-70s, he continued his studies with Paul Sears, drummer of the Muffins. His first group, Oranus Rey, featured guitarist Paul Bollenback, bassist Ed Howard, and saxophonist Tim Chambers.
In 1980 Doc moved to New York where he met fellow Music Building tenants Madonna and her co-writer, Stephen Bray. With Bray, Doc performed in the Breakfast Club and The Same. The Same was produced by Brian Eno and featured keyboardist Carter Burwell, guitarist Chip Johannsen, singer Clodagh Simonds, bassist Stanley Adler, and the motto "Semper Mutants."
Following Bray and Madonna to Los Angeles, Doc assisted on many of Madonna’s biggest albums as well as other of Bray’s projects including Nick Kamen, Gladys Knight, The Breakfast Club, Brian Ferry, and Steel Pulse. In L.A. Doc’s sound engineering skills were honed in sessions working alongside Michael Verdick and Tony Shepperd.
Back on the East Coast, Doc performed with the New England groups K2, Flash to Bangtime, and Feat of Clay using a Simmons kit he called the “Beast." Inspired by that of British drummer Bill Bruford, Doc’s 12-piece kit was the first embodiment of his love of digital drums.
In 1995, as a member of the trio Between The Lines, Doc designed and built the Drummstick, a percussion controller consisting rather humbly of a 2x6 piece of wood with 16 finger-pads. Borne of a desire to walk on stage, plug in and play like a guitarist, while accessing his beloved and virtually infinite world of digital sounds, Doc’s Drummstick developed a life of its own.
In 2000 Doc debuted his first CD of original music, The Drummstick, with his band of the same name, which featured core members Jack Wright on guitar, Neil Mezebish on horns, and Celia DuBose on bass. That year he also performed using the Drummstick with guitar legends including Bon Lozago of Gong, Tom Principato, Bill Kirchen, Paul Bollenback, as well as bansurist John Wubbenhorst, tabla master Sandip Burman, and the famed Howard Levy.
Now living in and loving San Francisco, Doc performed at the Edgetone New Music Summit of 2006 with horn player Eric Dahlman. He is thrilled at the 2007 release of a new Drummstick 2 CD, a long-distance collaboration with the original Drummstick band and other musical friends (and the re-release of his first Drummstick CD) on Edgetone Records.
Doc also produced and performed on an Edgetone release entitled Robert Anbian and UFQ: the Unidentified Flying Quartet. This timely and troubling work of jazz and poetry features poet Robert Anbian, saxophonist Charles Unger, keyboardist Sam Peoples, and bassist Mike Shea.
Recently he has been performing with the seven string bass virtuoso, Edo Castro and will be releasing two more albums on Edgetone; The upcoming "K2" in June ’08 with Seth Elgart, Neil Mezebish and Edo Castro, and "Feat of Clay:Quantum" with Eric Dahlman, Jack Wright, Tom Shiben and Liza Albright, scheduled for January of ’09.
Thanks again Doc and tell Edo how much I enjoyed his playing. Let's find another place and time to do it again. I have some videos from Italy of songs I played in Lucca. I may try to post them on My Space. Ciao, wilbur
Yeah, did have a blast, missed your gig tho :( I have a terrible cold from the woods right now. it was below freezng and we went camping! Hope to see you soon, Luv Ariane
Doc Thanks for a great session and letting be a part of K2! The great adventure continues! Have a great trip back east and my best to your pals on the E-coast. Edo
Hey Doc how are you?? I don't now if you're around next sunday, but i got Jeff Schmidt and Jimbo coming to the Rooz!! Stop by if you can. Hope all is well. Randy
The Doctor is IN, and he's way cool. I was here on your page listening the other night and digging the sounds, the grooves, the feel, the musicianship.
Little did I know that you were that great guy I met very briefly at The State Theater -- giving me one of the nicest compliments ever on "Over the Andes" -- something I've never forgotten, my friend. Thank you.
And I love the music you're making. I hope SF is treating you well -- what a great place that is, with a lot of amazing music. You're making it just that much richer.
