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Updated 11/26/2023

Joel LaRue Smith - Musician/pianist/composer

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Joel LaRue Smith (he/him) is a pianist and composer that has toured extensively, performing jazz, classical, gospel and Afro- Caribbean repertoire, throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. His first CD, as a leader, debuted in 2010, called, “September’s Child”, and features seven original Afro-Cuban Jazz compositions. His March 2017 CD is an Afro- Caribbean masterpiece entitled, “The Motorman’s Son”. “The Motorman’s Son” has been described in Downbeat magazine as “a vibrant, powerful and hard-grooving release”. He is the recipient of the 2019, Boston Foundation, Live Arts Boston grant, six Meet the Composer grants, as well as the George and Ira Gershwin Award from ASCAP. He was the 2022 Inaugural MacJannet Artist- in Residence for the Tufts European Center in Talloires, France. He will release 2 new CD's in  January 2024; a jazz trio recording, "Testimony", and a solo jazz piano recording, "Jazz Portraits and Sketches".

Find Me

Joel LaRue Smith (He/Him/His)
Job Title: Musician/Band Leader/Composer
Phone: 6179576476
Address:
85 Blue Hills Parkway
Milton, MA 02186

Social Media:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2001

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2001

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Jazz

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Solo / Recital

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Arts and Health
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Publishing
  • Residency - Other
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Cultural Education
  • Curriculum Development
  • Residency - In School
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Residency - Production / Development
  • Professional Development / Training
  • Film Showings
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Residency - Community
  • Community Arts
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 60

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Artists
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Incarcerated (or Formerly Incarcerated) individuals
  • Nonprofits
  • School Groups
  • Teens

Languages Available:

  • English
  • Spanish

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region
  • National
  • International

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
  • The Jazz Foundation of America
  • The College Music Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
  • The Jazz Foundation of America
  • The College Music Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Awards

Awards:

  • 2023 Granoff Fund Grant for Jazz Trio Musical Performance
  • 2023 Alicia Morris Memorial Fund grant for Jazz Trio Performance
  • 2023 McGill University Guest Lecturer on African Diaspora Music Orchestration
  • 2022 Inaugural Artist in Residency- Tufts European Center- Talloires, France
  • 2016 Proctor Foundation grant for Musical Composition and Performance
  • 1995 Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation -Winner of Regional Jazz Competition
  • 1995 Commission- Brown University for opera, "Marie Laveau"
  • 1995 Commission - New York University- Tisch School of the Arts
  • 1994 American Music Center - Composer Assistance Program Grants

Education

Education:

  • Manhattan School of Music, M.M.
  • The City College of New York, CUNY, B.A. in Music, Ford Fellow
  • Performing Arts High School, New York City

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Private Studio
  • School / University
  • Virtual / Remote
  • Corporate Business
  • Afterschool Program
  • Community Site / Center

Ages Served:

  • College-age
  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy
  • Arts Integration - Health
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Arts Integration - Mathematics
  • Arts Integration - Science / Technology / Engineering
  • Music
  • Literature
  • Dance

Fee range:

Half Day Workshop ( 3 hours) $1200 Full Day Workshop (6 hours) $2400 Jazz Piano or Improvisation Master Class (2 hours) $1500

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Private Studio
  • School / University
  • Virtual / Remote
  • Corporate Business
  • Afterschool Program
  • Community Site / Center

Ages Served:

  • College-age
  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - English Language / Literacy
  • Arts Integration - Health
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Arts Integration - Mathematics
  • Arts Integration - Science / Technology / Engineering
  • Music
  • Literature
  • Dance

Fee range:

Half Day Workshop ( 3 hours) $1200 Full Day Workshop (6 hours) $2400 Jazz Piano or Improvisation Master Class (2 hours) $1500

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • For the solo piano concert: • 1 acoustic grand piano with bench* Steinway Grand or Yamaha Grand are preferable (tuned the same day as the performance)
  • Jazz Trio Performance Musical Instruments: 1 acoustic grand piano with bench 1 bass amplifier. 1 drum set - bass drum, floor tom, and 2 mounted toms, ride and crash cymbals and stands, throne, hi-hat cymbals with stand and foot pedal, 1 mounted cow bell.
  • Jazz Trio Technical Equipment: 1 mixing board with 8-12 channels 1 microphone for speaking 5 mics for drum set 3 monitors 2-4 large speakers 2-3mics for grand piano 1 direct box for bass amplifier

Fee Range:

Solo Piano Performance $6,000 Jazz Trio Performance $15,000

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

3