Dr. Darrell Smith

Drummer |  Performer |  Educator

Biography

Over the course of his 23-year career, New York City native Dr. Darrell Smith has played drums with some of the most in-demand musicians across many of the world’s most famous stages. From the halls of the esteemed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School (a.k.a. “The Fame School”), and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Dr. Smith has been recognized for his prodigious talent with numerous awards and honors (including a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division and the Principal’s Award for Excellence in Contribution to LaGuardia High School). His educational foundation from some of the most prestigious institutions in New York, along with instruction and mentorship from acclaimed musicians like Kenny Washington, Ali Jackson, Dafnis Prieto, Bernard Purdie, and Billy Hart, has propelled him to success as one of the most sought-after young drummers in the city.

As a band leader, Dr. Smith frequently performs with his Dal Segno Trio at popular New York venues. The Dal Segno Trio is currently featured as the resident band at Gotham 12 E. 12th on Wednesdays and Saturdays where Dr. Smith also curates special musical events and artist series. A 2019 tour brought the Dal Segno Trio to Mumbai, India as a headliner for the NCPA Jazz Festival. He has been featured in festival performances locally and internationally at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Dr. Smith also held a residency as the drummer for the jazz brunch at Smoke Jazz Club for nearly seven years.

As a composer and drummer, Dr. Smith also has extensive experience with musical theater in Off-Broadway and national productions. His original music for the New Orleans-themed play “Interludes” was featured in their performances at the 2015 San Diego International Fringe Festival and the 2017 New York Fringe Festival. Over the past several years, Dr. Smith has also played drums and percussion for productions like “West Side Story”, “The King & I”, “Pearl”, and “Magdalene”. He often contributes to live performance art and dance performances as a drummer; both improvised and composed-through pieces.

In addition to working as a band leader and drummer, Dr. Smith is a highly-respected and gifted educator, music director, and program director. His current tenure as the director of education and performance at Jazz House Kids under the artistic direction of Christian McBride and an adjunct professor in the music department at CUNY: College of Staten Island have given him a platform to spread his passion for jazz to thousands of talented young musicians around the city and tri-state area. Dr. Smith also serves on the board of directors at The Jazz Loft. He has served as the music director for the Staten Island Jazz Festival for the past several years and continues to advise local organizations and venues on performance curation and music direction, including the Staten Island Ferry Hawks Stadium, HONK NYC!, and pop-up events for private and city-funded organizations.
 
Dr. Smith completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at SUNY Stonybrook in Dec 2020. He is currently working to further the education of young musicians through community organization, Jazz House Kids, The Jazz Loft, Universal Temple of the Arts, The Staten Island Arts Foundation, and other private organizations.

As of 2019, Dr. Smith is endorsed by Canopus Drums.