Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Ms. Smith formed her band, "Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers" in San Francisco, CA in 1989. The group originally consisted of Trumpet, Piano, Guitar, Bass and Drums. The band grew in size over time, and since 1996, Lavay has performed and toured with an 8-piece lineup (4 horns and 4 rhythm) consisting of Trumpet, Trombone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Piano, Guitar, Bass and Drums. Occasionally, Lavay expands the band to 10 pieces (6 horns and 4 rhythm) by adding a second Trumpet and a Baritone. Lavay also performs with a full 16-piece big band.
Today, the band consists of Allen Smith (Trumpet); Bill Ortiz (Trumpet); Mike Olmos (Trumpet); Danny Armstrong (Trombone); Jules Broussard (Alto and Tenor Saxophones); Charles McNeal (Alto and Tenor Saxophones); Ron Stallings (Tenor and Baritone Saxophones); Howard Wiley (Tenor Saxophone); Robert Stewart (Tenor Saxophone); Pete Cornell (Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones); Charlie Siebert (Guitar); David Ewell (String Bass); Darrell Green (Drums) and Chris Siebert (Piano, Arranger, Bandleader). The band's arrangements are written by Chris Siebert and noted New York arranger David Berger.
Lavay's band members have performed with many famous musicians:
Trumpet player Allen Smith has performed with Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
Trumpet player Bill Ortiz has performed with Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and has been Carlos Santana's Trumpet player for over 7 years.
Trumpet player Mike Olmos has performed with Etta James and Rosemary Clooney.
Trombone player Danny Armstrong has performed with Johnny Otis, Rufus Thomas, Ann Peebles and Archie Bell & The Drells.
Alto and Tenor Saxophone player Jules Broussard has performed with Ray Charles, Esther Phillips, Big Mama Thornton, Earl Grant, Santana, Steve Miller, Van Morrison and Boz Skaggs.
Tenor Saxophone player Ron Stallings has performed with Joe Williams, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy McCracklin, Ruth Brown, Louis Bellson, Gladys Knight, Otis Rush and Dr. John and has been a long-time member of Huey Lewis and the News.
Alto and Tenor Saxophone player Charles McNeal has performed with John Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, Leslie Drayton, McCoy Tyner, Barbara Morrison, Junior Mance, Roberta Flack, The Temptations and Ruth Brown.
Tenor Saxophone player Howard Wiley and Bassist David Ewell toured with Lauryn Hill throughout 2007. David Ewell also tours with Piano player Marc Cary.
Tenor Saxophone player Robert Stewart has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis & The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He recorded for Quincy Jones' Qwest Records and tours the world under his own name.
Drummer Darrell Green has performed with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Marlena Shaw, Jeremy Pelt, Stephon Harris and Tony Monaco. He has toured to Europe several times with Sherman Irby, Alto Saxophone player with The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Lavay Smith released her third album, "Miss Smith To You!" for her independent record label, Fat Note Records on September 8, 2009.
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Freedom from labor itself is not new; it once belonged among the most firmly established privileges of the few. In this instance, it seems as though scientific progress and technical developments had been only taken advantage of to achieve something about which all former ages dreamed but which none had been able to realize.”
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