Drummer Mike Smith Dies

Jazz drummer and longtime Washington, D.C. resident Mike Smith died Jan. 2, although the benefit concert planned to pay his medical bills will go on as planned tonight (see “John Abercrombie, Drew Gress to Play Benefit Concert for Mike Smith”). While his financial concerns are now taken care of, the concert proceeds will go to benefit two charities: the Jazz Musician Emergency Fund and Musicares.

Smith was a drummer for over 30 years and during that time, accompanied musicians including Roberta Flack, Steve Kuhn, David Liebman and the four musicians playing tonight’s concert: John Abercrombie, Drew Gress, Marc Copland and Tony Martucci.

Originally Published January 9, 2006