David Smith is a jazz trombonist originally from Boynton Beach, Florida. Upon his discovery of the trombone at the age of 12, he has pursued the instrument since then with a love for jazz music. He has performed with leading jazz musicians including legendary trombonist from the world-renowned Duke Ellington Orchestra, George "Buster" Cooper (1929 - 2016), Vincent Gardner, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, Jason Marsalis, Roland Guerlin, Rufus Reid, Leon Anderson, Rodney Jordan, John Gunther, and Dave Corbus.
Smith is dedicated to enriching the lives of the younger generation by his commitment to education. He holds a bachelor's in music from Florida State University, a master's in jazz studies from the University of South Florida, and a Doctorate in Jazz Studies Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado. Currently, he is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL where he teaches courses in American Popular Music, Jazz Improvisation, and directs the SF Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Concert Band. In addition to his teaching duties, Smith maintains a busy schedule performing as a jazz soloist and guest artist in the Ocala and Gainesville communities, and throughout the North Florida region.
His mission is to preserve America's original art form, "Jazz" by providing workshops on jazz improvisation, educational sessions on its rich history, and live performances for music enthusiasts and audiences of all ages.