E. Doctor Smith – The Drummstick, Samples | Celia DuBose – Electric Bass | Jack Wright – Electric Guitars, Loops | Neil Mezebish – Flute, Alto, Tenor, Soprano and MIDI Saxophones | Seth Elgart– Synthesizers, Samples | Eric Dahlman – Trumpet | Charles Unger – Tenor and Soprano Saxophones | Sam Peoples – Acoustic and Electric Piano, Samples | Mike Shea – Acoustic and Electric Bass

Tracklist: 1. Mike’s Theme 2. Wish We Were Here 3. Astral Aura 4. Neil and Jack and Me 5. Playin’ Possum 6. Cowboy Bebop 7. All In 8. My Art Declares a Holiday 9. Zulu 10. Ikebana

E. Doctor Smith’s original invention, the Drummstick

has a vertical design that enhances his ability to digitally tap, slap, flam, and roll. This CD showcases the versatility of his instrument and presents truly inspired left-the-box-way-behind music that smacks you up one side of your head while caressing you down the other. For the Drummstick’s 10th anniversary, Doc reassembled many of the musicians from the Drummstick’s debut release in 2000, as well as some great new ones. Rejoining Doc for Drummstick 2 are bassist and co-producer Celia DuBose; Jack Wright with his array of electric guitars and loops; Neil Mezebish on acoustic and MIDI saxes; trumpeter and Feat of Clay co-founder the “Mad Swede,” aka Eric Dahlman; and his long-time collaborator and K2 co-founder Seth “Elgie” Elgart on assorted iBooks, vintage synthesizers, keyboards and samples. Also joining Doc is bassist Mike Shea, who recorded with Doc’s latest ensemble, Robert Anbian and UFQ: The Unidentified Flying Quartet, featuring poet Robert Anbian, saxophonist Charles Unger, and pianist Sam Peoples.

Having played for 20 years in jazz, fusion, pop, and folk bands

as a serious student of drums, E. Doctor Smith developed a love of digital drumming that compelled him to design and build an instrument that would give him maximum flexibility as a writer, drummer, and performer. The Drummstick, a percussion controller with 16 finger-pads mounted on a 2 x 6 piece of wood, is worn like a guitar and used exclusively to achieve Doc’s primary goal in life— to make spirits dance. “From the banjo-meets-Bruford tribal groove of ‘Futureboy’ to the atmospheric sonic landscapes of “Girl of a Thousand Days,” E. Doctor Smith treads a musical road less traveled. His intrepid ensemble’s acid jazz explorations wander into every world musical nook and cranny, making this collection a trip well worth taking.” – Stephen Bray, Producer

E. Doctor Smith

began his musical journey as a teenager playing percussion in the District of Columbia Youth Orchestra and in Maryland’s Montgomery County Youth Orchestra. Inspired by the Miles Davis fusion bands of the mid-70s, he continued his studies with Paul Sears, drummer of the Muffins. His first group, Oranus Rey, featured guitarist Paul Bollenback, bassist Ed Howard, and saxophonist Tim Chambers. In 1980 Doc moved to New York where he met fellow Music Building tenants Madonna and her co-writer, Stephen Bray. With Bray, Doc performed in the Breakfast Club and The Same. The Same was produced by Brian Eno and featured keyboardist Carter Burwell, guitarist Chip Johannsen, singer Clodagh Simmonds, bassist Stanley Adler, and the motto “Semper Mutants.”

Following Bray and Madonna to Los Angeles, Doc assisted on many of Madonna’s biggest albums as well as other of Bray’s projects including Nick Kamen, Gladys Knight, The Breakfast Club, Brian Ferry, and Steel Pulse. In L.A. Doc’s sound engineering skills were honed in sessions working alongside Michael Verdick and Tony Shepperd. Back on the East Coast, Doc performed with the New England groups K2, Flash to Bangtime, and Feat of Clay using a Simmons kit he called the “Beast.” Inspired by that of British drummer Bill Bruford, Doc’s 12-piece kit was the first embodiment of his love of digital drums. In 1995, as a member of the trio Between The Lines, Doc designed and built the Drummstick, a percussion controller consisting rather humbly of a 2×6 piece of wood with 16 finger-pads. Borne of a desire to walk on stage, plug in and play like a guitarist, while accessing his beloved and virtually infinite world of digital sounds, Doc’s Drummstick developed a life of its own. In 2000 Doc debuted his first CD of original music, The Drummstick, with his band of the same name, which featured core members Jack Wright on guitar, Neil Mezebish on horns, and Celia DuBose on bass.

That year he also performed using the Drummstick with guitar legends including Bon Lozago of Gong, Tom Principato, Bill Kirchen, Paul Bollenback, as well as bansurist John Wubbenhorst, tabla master Sandip Burman, and the famed Howard Levy. Now living in and loving San Francisco, Doc performed at the Edgetone New Music Summit of 2006 with horn player Eric Dahlman. He is thrilled at the 2007 release of a new Drummstick 2 CD, a long-distance collaboration with the original Drummstick band and other musical friends (and the re-release of his first Drummstick CD) on Edgetone Records. Doc also produced and performed on an Edgetone release entitled Robert Anbian and UFQ: the Unidentified Flying Quartet. This timely and troubling work of jazz and poetry features poet Robert Anbian, saxophonist Charles Unger, keyboardist Sam Peoples, and bassist Mike Shea.

I call the post-fusion, world beat jazz these guys play ‘acid-bop’… – Robert Anbian, Poet

While acid jazz is normally more mood than passion, the taste of bop and afro-funk thsat is offered whets the ear for more more more. – Mike Wood, Music Emmissions

CD version (incl. shipment cost world-wide)