Article Tracy Sullivan | Photography Angela Bond
Lee’s Summit resident Clarence Smith is the consummate music man. In addition to being the Coordinator of the Music Department and teacher at Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, he’s also an accomplished musician and music director who has worked with high-profile local and national musicians.
Working for MCC, Smith says the most rewarding aspect of his job is “the opportunity to share my love of music with others. I love being able to listen to and discuss some of the finer aspects of music.” He enjoys and teaches not only classical music, but also American music, especially Jazz. He also says, “I love directing great music, and enjoy the fact that what I do has an effect on the KC music community.”
Smith directs the jazz ensemble at MCC-Blue River, and serves as the director of Kansas City Youth Jazz (KCYJ), a non-profit organization that allows the youth of our city to study jazz beyond what is learned in the public schools. It is housed in the midtown neighborhood on the campus of Penn Valley. According to Smith, 15-20 percent of the students involved with the program are from eastern Jackson County.
KCYJ student groups perform annual concerts in December, May and August. They also play in local and national jazz festivals. They were a part of the opening weekend of performances at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and a few weeks afterward, they were featured on Good Morning America. Smith says, “I’m happy to say that Lee’s Summit is well represented in the KCYJ program.”
Smith is a percussionist, and most of his performances are on drum set, though he has also played classical percussion instruments in many metro area orchestras. He currently plays regularly in three groups: a rhythm and blues band called JLove; the Smith/Athon Group, which he co-leads with singer/saxophonist Joe Athon; and jazz singer Toni Gates.
When asked about his most memorable performances, Smith ranks playing with trombonist Bill Watrous as one of his favorites. Smith says, “He is a virtuoso and it is always a great experience to play with someone of his caliber.” Other noteworthy people in the KC area he’s performed with include Jay McShann, Ahmad Alaadeen, Carmel Jones (all deceased), Will Matthews (a Lee’s Summit resident and current guitarist with The Count Basie Orchestra), Bobby Watson and Queen Bey. Some musicians he’s performed with on the national level include Clark Terry and Mike Vax.
Some of the musicians and bands Smith admires are jazz guitarist Pat Metheny (another Lee’s Sum- mit native), The Count Basie Orchestra, Earth Wind and Fire and Steely Dan. When talking about Metheny, Smith says, “His music attracts me in many ways. He has a terrific melodic feel that stands above most. His multi-metered songs are fun and I enjoy the interplay that takes place between the players in his band. They are musicians of the highest caliber.” Smith also enjoys many KC area mu- sicians and bands, such as Sons of Brasil, Bobby Watson, The UMKC jazz ensembles and the Kansas City Symphony.
Outside of the Kansas City area, Smith has performed in all of the major American cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas. He has directed student jazz ensembles at the Smithsonian Institute and the John F. Kennedy Center.
With all the activities he juggles, Smith also is frequently invited to work with jazz ensembles at area middle schools and high schools; to teach percussion and jazz master classes; and to serve as an adjudicator at jazz festivals and competitions. He is the director of the annual 18th and Vine Jazz Festival that takes place each April, and has a key role with the Bob James Jazz Festival in Marshall, Mo. Later in this school year, he will be a guest conductor of two state honor jazz ensembles, and he’s on the faculty of a summer performing arts camp in Kingston, Pa.
Throughout the years, Smith has received many awards and accolades, including the Ahmad Alaa- deen Award for Excellence in Jazz Education in 2010; Downbeat Magazine’s Jazz Educator of the Year in 2000; and being selected for a music fellowship at Northwestern University in 2003.
Smith and his family moved to Lee’s Summit in 2006, lured by the reputation of the schools. Smith’s wife, Janet, is an employee morale and public relations consultant. They have five children: Drew, 31, an entrepreneur who is married and lives in North Carolina; Hayden, 21, a music educa- tion major at UMKC; Chloe, 21, a nursing student; Morgan, 20, a musician and entrepreneur; and Lauren, 17, who is finishing her high school work online while starting college courses through MCC. The couple also has a 1-year-old grandson. Smith says he and Janet love their neighborhood and have made many friends in Lee’s Summit.
The Smiths enjoy spending time in downtown Lee’s Summit. Their favorite spots include Maggie’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant and LMS Wine Creators, which is owned by their neighbors, Larry and Marsha Bradbury. They attend Woods Chapel Church, where Smith is involved with several music ensembles. Janet is on the church’s Prom Boutique committee and also works year around seeking donations of luggage and purses for Hope House. LsL
For those interested in seeing Clarence Smith perform, JLove plays at the Phoenix Jazz Club, ThePhoenixkc.com the fourth Friday of every month, and regularly at the Westchase Grille in Leawood, WestChaseGrill.com. The website for the Kansas City Youth Jazz is KCYouthJazz.org and includes a calendar of upcoming concerts.
Loading tweets...