Guitarist Perry Smith combines the tradition of Jazz with broad influences from contemporary
music to create his signature style. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith is now
based in Brooklyn where he performs as a bandleader and as a sideman for local and touring
artists. Smith’s extensive performance resume includes notable stages such as: Birdland
(NYC), Blue Note Jazz Club (NYC & Tokyo), Smalls Jazz Club (NYC), Dizzy's Club Coca Cola
(NYC), Montreal Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, LA Guitar Festival, Java Jazz Festival
(Indonesia), Jazz a la Calle (Uruguay), Rochester Jazz Festival, Stowe Jazz Festival, Yoshi's
Jazz Club (SF), The Blue Whale (LA), Philippine International Jazz Festival, Rocky Mountain
Archtop Festival, Jazz Alley, Blues Alley, SFJazz and many more.
In 2005, Smith received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Flora L. Thornton School of
Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied with jazz guitar legend Joe
Diorio. In 2011 he completed his Masters in Music at New York University studying with the
great modern jazz guitarist John Scofield. Smith was named the “Outstanding Graduate" for
the NYU Jazz Department in 2011. He is currently on faculty at Kaufman Music Center in
Manhattan where he teaches private guitar lessons, Jazz Guitar Ensemble and Guitar
Technique at the Special Music School.
