Jumaane Smith is an acclaimed trumpeter, vocalist, and composer who is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Jazz Studies program at the Juilliard School of Music, under the tutelage of Wynton Marsalis.
With a career adorned by collaborations with musical legends including Stevie Wonder and a 18-year tenure with Michael Bublé , Smith is stepping into the spotlight with a deeply personal and ultimately redeeming homecoming story in the form of new album Come on Home (out August 16 on Zinn Music)
Smith spoke with WBGO's Doug Doyle about the new album and his story of survival.
Growing up in Seattle, Smith did not have a nurturing childhood. His stepfather was addicted to drugs and it created a very abusive situation in the house. He says it was nearly a decade before he and his mom could get out.
"I was very lucky that I found music or music found me at that time. Through those years it was like my only friend. I saw positivity and growth through the challenges in learning about music. It really did save my life. I got some wonderful mentors through that process that really helped to guide me. It opened up my world."
The new album Come on Home is an emotional one for Smith.
"The origins of this new album are really my origins. It's really an autobiographical album. I wrote the majority of the music. We did three songs that are covers on this, but other than that it's all original music. I really wanted to tell my story through this piece."
Come On Home consists of Smith's original compositions that blend jazz, blues, and contemporary soul, and new arrangements of beloved tunes.
When he was growing up, Jumaane remembers hearing the wonderful tone of trombonist J. J. Johnson when Johnson was working with Miles Davis. Freddie Hubbard's albums was the biggest part of Jumaane's musical collection.
Smith has performed on 5 GRAMMY Award-winning records (selling more than 60 million copies), 2 Emmy Award-nominated TV performances, the GRAMMY Awards with Stevie Wonder, in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (trumpet solo actor), at The White House, on the Today Show, Tonight Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, and American Idol.
You can SEE Doug Doyle entire conversation with Jumaane Smith here.
