Adrian's Musical Biography

Adrian started his musical experience on the piano getting his grade eight RCM certificate. During elementary school he aslo played the violin for four years. Adrian started playing the trumpet in 1988 taking classical trumpet lessons. He won many awards during high school and was enrolled in the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir and Jazz Choir.

After graduating from high school Adrian studied at Capilano College for five semesters in the Jazz Studies program. While at Cap. He took trumpet lessons (classical and Jazz Improvisation) from Brad Turner. Adrian played lead trumpet in the Capilano College "B" band for four semesters as well as lead, second and fifth trumpet in the "A" band for a total of five semesters. He sang tenor in the top Jazz Choir "Night Cap" for three semesters. Adrian also joined Brass Ensemble as well as many small jazz ensembles. During college he started to play professionally around town in many Latin bands including: Salsa Brava, Pyramide, Orchesta Tropicana and B.C. Salsa. Adrian also played with "S.A.B.B.R." (South African Big Band Revival) on second trumpet. Also he played around Vancouver and toured with a local funk band called "Silicone Souls". Adrian has played many gigs with small jazz groups around Vancouver.

From 1997 to 2009 Adrian worked on cruise ships intermittently. The first two contracts were with "Premier Cruises" where he played lead trumpet (being the only trumpet player) in a six-piece Show/Dance band. His main job was to play ballroom dance music as well as back-up the feature entertainers. The next two contracts were with "Royal Caribbean Cruise Line" where he played both lead and second trumpet in an eleven-piece show band (mostly second trumpet which he had occasional solos). His primary job was to back-up the feature entertainers playing every style of music imaginable usually with one rehearsal before two shows the same night. Two days a week we also played in a Broadway Review type show with a cast of singers and dancers. Every so often they would put on a Big Band set as well as a Jazz set with a small selection of the show band in which he usually played. Adrian also did many contracts on the Queen Mary 2 starting out playing trumpet in the Queen's Room Dance Band and then switching to 2nd trumpet in the Royal Court Theatre Orchestra. After three contracts he then was put on Lead trumpet. The majority of his cruise ship playing was done on Princess Cruises playing lead trumpet in the theatre orchestras. The last cruise he worked on at the beginning of 2009 was a world cruise on "Regent Seven Sea's Voyager". While in Vancouver between contracts, Adrian was involved in many musical projects in. Playing with a funk cover band "Phat Edna's Soul Review", an R&B cover band "Malpractice" (now known as Soul Purpose) as well as many other freelance work. Adrian started the "Adrian Smith Trio / Quartet" where he plays trumpet, flugelhorn back in 2004. He is also a part of a Jazz Quartet called "Sharp 4" and a tribute band "Swinghouse 4" paying homage to the great Chet Baker & Gerry Mulligan chordless jazz quartet. Late 2008 Adrian put out a smooth Jazz Album called "McSmooth" which features 11 original Compositions. Adrian teaches private trumpet and jazz improvisation students.

Through all of his experiences he has had the pleasure to play almost every style of music including: Classical, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Fusion, Rhythm and Blues, Ska, Hip-Hop, Rock and Roll and Country just to name a few. Adrian has played Trumpet with: The Coasters, The Platters, Eddie Holman, Mary Wilson, Ed Thigpen, Kurt Elling, Dee Daniels, Dal Richards, Michael Kaeshammer, Don Rickles, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons... and many more... He also played in the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games.