Performing an exciting mix of Straight-ahead swing, Jazz standards,
Latin Jazz,
smooth jazz, to R&B. This is an All Star band featuring
some of the top
players on the Australian Music Scene. This band is co led by
Guitar Master Dave
Smith and multi reedman, Laksar Reese - Saxophones & Flute.
with Ed Gaston
Jazz Bass Legend and Toby Hall - Sydney Drum phenom. We add
an exciting
female vocalist to select events. The members of this ensemble
have played with some
of the top names in jazz music in Australia & worldwide
Performing a choice selection of Jazz standards, mixed with
intelligent originals and
infectious rhythms. This ensemble also features the music of
the Jazz Legends. From
Miles to Monk. Ellington to Coltrane. Bird & Jobim, to Tito
Puente, Santana and much
more. We are pleased to present the members of this ensemble
together again after
fifteen years!
THE BANDMEMBERS
David Smith - Electric & Acoustic Guitar
Born Sydney 1954. Played in London '75-'79 at 100 Club, Phoenix,White
Heart.
Has played at many major Jazz venues, Festivals, hotels, restaurants.
Played many concert halls in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth ,Queensland
and
New Zealand. Performed and recorded in Spain. Has performed
in New York
with Jack Wilkins, Peter Leitch, Paul Bollenback, Chuck Wayne,
Steve LaSpina,
Jeff Hirshfield & more.
Currently Leads the Dave Smith Trio and Quartet. Musical styles
include standards,
bebop, fusion, funk, mood music, contemporary, latin & original.
Influences
include Montgomery, Benson, Pass, McLaughlin, Evans, Parker,
Coltrane.
David has performed on TV & radio; has taught at Perth Conservatorium,
Sydney & NSW Universities, Sydney School Guitar, Aust Institute
Of Music,
Panov Academy & masterclasses. He has released three albums;
is featured
in "The Jazz Guitar", "Jazz Guitar 2000","Just
Jazz Guitar" ,"Crescendo" &has done two books
of Barney Kessel transcriptions for Hal Leonard USA.
He has had write ups in [USA]"Herald","Telegraph",
"Mirror","West Australian" etc.
"Dave plays with such taste, feel & technique ,I
expect the world will come to recognize
the greatness of this wonderful player" - Jack Wilkins,
Jazz Guitar legend, USA
"Smith has the ability to play as fast as anyone,but marries
his flawless
technique with taste and timing" - Garry Lee,Perth;
"Dave is a great player, plays so good, great sound, great
feeling, long lines"
-Peter Sprague,USA
"He's a great player" - Ron Jackson,USA; Your CD is
a tour de force" - Tony Mottola,USA
"Monster player & musician" - Robert Yelin,USA.
David does regular and casual gigs at The Regent, Basement,
Soup Plus,
Side On Cafe and hundreds of other gigs throughout the year.
He has performed
Concerts, festivals and gigs in Western Australia each year
since 1998. Recent TV appearances include The Arts Show and
The Guitar Age on ABC. Highlights of 2005 included a three week
tour performing at jazz festivals and doing master classes in
N.Z with New York guitarist Jack Wilkins. He co-leads the Laksar
Reese/Dave Smith Quartet.
Ed Gaston Acoustic Bass
Born in North Carolina, U.S.A. played clarinet for 13 years
in high school and U.S. Army bands. Started playing double bass
in last year of army service and continued with it after discharge,
working in Atlanta Georgia and on the road with the Hal M'cIntyre
big band. He landed a job with the Australian Jazz Quintet in
1957, who were touring the U.S. jazz circuit. They returned
to Australia in 1958 for a concert tour for the A.B.C., then
they disbanded. Ed. met and married Sydney girl Diane Dewar
and has been living and working in Sydney since that time except
for two short stints in Los Angeles-1961 to 1963 and 1978 to
1980. He has had the good fortune of backing many well known
international jazz stars who toured Australia, such as Dizzy
Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Stephan Grappelli, Sonny Stitt, Barney
Kessel, Clark Terry, George Cables, Dick Hyman, Milt Jackson
to name a few. He was a founding member of the Don Burrows Quartet
for ten years which culminated with appearances at the
Montreux and Newport Jazz festivals in 1972. He is semi-retired
but playing in the jazz scene in Sydney and appearing at select
jazz festivals. He is a featured member of the Laksar Reese/Dave
Smith Quartet.
Toby Hall - Drums
Toby Hall is one of the most highly regarded Australian drummers,
featuring on over 30 Australian CDs. He works with many of Australia's
finest jazz and contemporary musicians live and in the studio,
including Don Burrows, James Morrison, Sandy Evans, James Greening,
Bernie McGann, Dale Barlow, Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Lloyd
Swanton, and Vince Jones.
Toby has also performed with international artists include
Sheila Jordan, Ricky Ford, Chuck Findley and Raymond MacDonald
among others. Toby has given master classes and workshops at
tertiary institutions and jazz festivals throughout Australia
and has toured all the major capital cities. He has performed
at many of the best jazz festivals (Montreal Jazz Festival,
North Sea Jazz Festival, Jakarta International Jazz Festival),
and contemporary music venues (New York's famous Knitting Factory)
throughout Europe, Canada, Asia and the South Pacific.
Born in Sydney 1973. Multi Instrumentalist, Bandleader, composer,
arranger & business owner, previously based in Los Angeles
and Chicago for fifteen years, now calls Sydney his home. He
has toured throughout the U.S. leading the LRM Quartet/Quintet
and also as a featured member of the Chuchito Valdes
Afro-Cuban ensemble. Laksar Reese, currently splits
his time between Los Angeles and Sydney. He leads his
hard grooving ensemble on the IW Tenor/Soprano/Bass Saxophones
and Flute. He has performed worldwide touring throughout
the United States, U.S.A, Taiwan, Europe, Australia, Mexico,
Cuba and the Caribbean. He delights in performing an exciting
blend of Latin Jazz, Funky grooves and straight-ahead, hard
swinging, american style jazz! He co leads the Laksar Reese/Dave
Smith Quartet.
For the past eight years Laksar Reese
has been a featured member of the Chuchito Valdes Afro-Cuban
Ensemble. He recorded and co-produced the Latin Jazz Album -
"Encantado" with Chuchito Valdes, which was released on the New
York Based Record Company - Towncrier Recordings. The 2nd CD
by this ensemble was also co-produced by Laksar Reese, entitled
La Timba,distributed by SONY discos.
Below are some of the venues where
he has performed as a feautred member of the Chuchito Valdes
Latin Jazz Band.
Orchestra Hall in Detroit November 9th, 2001.Detroit, Michigan
Yerba Buena Festival Of Cuban Music - August of 2001 - (6000
people)
San Francisco, California
Havana Jazz Festival Dec. 2000 - 2005 Havana, Cuba
Cancun Jazz Festival May 2001,2003. Cancun, Mexico
Crochets Lazz Club San Diego, 2008
San Diego Public Radio Live Concert Broadcast, 2007 University
of San Diego
Birdland Jazz Club, NY - April 2002 New York, NY
Green Mill Jazz Club Chicago Chicago, IL, 2005- 2010
Concerts for the Jazz Institute of Chicago - April 2001, June
2002 Chicago, IL
Grinnell College, IA March, 2002 - University Concert. Grinnell,
Iowa
Cancun Jazz Festival - May, 2002 >
Chicago Jazz Festival - Sept 1 , 2002 Chicago, Illinois
Detroit Jazz festival
Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival October 18th, 2002 - Brownsville,
Texas
Cancun Jazz Festival - May, 2002, 2003 Cancun, Mexico
AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival San Jose,
California
Catalinas National Jazz Club, Los Angeles, 2009, 2010
HUSH Night Club, Hollywood - 2010
THE COMPANY
International Woodwind was founded
by Laksar Reese, a professional saxophonist and woodwind repair
technician. He used his unique knowledge as a pro player and
woodwind repair tech. to assist in the design of the International
Woodwind line of musical instruments. We specialize in making
This
company has been in operation since 2000 and is based out of
Hollywood, California. Please refer to the section below to
read more about Laksar Reesemusical biography.
This company offers a complete line
of pro and student level saxophones & flutes, that Laksar Reese
has designed. Modern saxophones with the vintage saxophone sound.
Available in Matte finish, Gold Plate, Black Nickel and Lacquer.
They play and look great. Alto and bass flutes are also available.
There is also a Bass Saxophone being released in April of 2006.
For information on our complete line of saxophones and woodwind
instruments we invite you to visit
our online catalogue.
