Wadada Leo Smith
Trumpeter / Composer
Wadada Leo Smith, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, creative composer/performer and author.
Born on December 18, 1941 in Leland, Mississippi, Wadada Leo Smith began his musical journey steeped in the musical traditions of the South. He composed his first piece of music at the age of twelve, and at thirteen started performing with Delta Blues and other traditional bands.
Smith defines his music as "Creative Music," and his diverse discography reveals a recorded history of music centered in the idea of spiritual harmony and the unification of social and cultural issues of his world. He has created Ankhrasmation, a symbolic image-based language for performers or musicians.
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Oct. 25, 2026
Wadada Leo Smith: A Trumpeter Composing in Light
The AACM veteran joins us to discuss 'Constellations and Hemispheres,' a record he built like a dub producer from four ensembles, and the color research he asks of every player, kept secret from the rest of the band.
Guest: Wadada Leo Smith