Biography
Performances | Recordings | Download Press Pac
Sasha Smith has astonished people with his “stunning and individual style” (Blues Revue) and has fan base in Los Angeles, Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area since his solo piano performance at the age of twelve at the 1993 Sonoma County Blues Festival.
As a young lad Sasha's mom sent him to classical piano lessons while his father played boogie-woogie and blues records at home; somewhere in-between the classical lessons and learning-by-ear from the recordings of Albert Ammons, Johnnie Johnson and James Booker, Sasha began bugging local Northern Californian musicians like Johnny Otis and Stu Blank to show him their way of playing music. At the time, Stu was playing at dark hole-in-the-wall bars that were difficult for Sasha to get into because of his age. Stu would help Sasha sneak in through the back door and let him sit in only to be kicked out after a song or two. These were formative piano years and Johnny and Stu took a liking to him and Sasha soon became the little piano maestro playing all of the hot venues and festivals in sleepy Sonoma County. He released two CD's by age 15, receiving flattering reviews from national music magazines like Blues Revue and Blues Access. Local radio DJ and concert promoter Bill Bowker took Sasha under his wing getting him regular airplay on KRSH including a spot on the daily events announcement as background music. With remarkable alacrity, Sasha branched out to San Francisco playing at the San Francisco Chronicle’s 4th of July Waterfront Festival and the Monterey Blues Festival when all of a sudden . . . he grew up.
Before graduating from high school Sasha apprenticed with local musicians Tom Waits and Les Claypool at their respective recording studios. The experience opened his eyes to a lyrical process he had never ventured towards. Later that year Sasha packed up and went to music school at CalArts just north of Los Angeles and began writing lyrics for a whole slew of new songs. He played piano in the CalArts Country band aside from his studies indulging in the sweet sounds of Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and, occasionally, Hank Williams Jr. He also played piano in Charlie Haden's CalArt's Liberation Orchestra.
Before departing CalArts, Sasha formed his band and kicked off a California tour ending at the Monterey Blues Festival opening shows along the way for established artists like Maria Maldaur and Eric Bibb. Now grown up and a sophisticated song-smith, Sasha's music is informed by Randy Newman, Elliott Smith, Tom Waits, Elton John, and The Beatles. Sasha’s music remains distinctly individual while still fantastically accessible- he has developed a unique sound of his own, with “not only…outstanding chops but musical ideas and sophistication . . .” (Blues Access)
Sasha has had the privilege to share the stage with Johnnie Johnson, Jimmy McGriff, Roy Rogers, Norton Buffalo, Tommy Castro, Roger McGuinn, Johnny Otis, Maria Muldaur, Angela Strehli, Doyle Bramhall I and II, Faye Carol and Marvin Hamlisch. He has performed at many festivals including the Monterey Blues Festival, The SF Chronicle Waterfront Festival, The Morro Bay Harbor Festival, The Sonoma County Blues Festival, and the Sonoma County Folk Festival.
2005 Monterey Blues Festival, CA
The Derby, Los Angeles, CA
Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
2004 KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic w/Devendra Banhart, Santa Monica, CA
Hollywood Knitting Factory, CA
The Hard Rock Cafe, Beverly Hills, CA
2003 Monterey Blues Festival, Monterey, CA
Powerhouse Brew Co, Sebastopol, CA
Summerfield Music Fest, Santa Rosa, CA
2002 Original music opening for Eric Bibb at the Powerhouse, Sonoma County, CA
Original music in the G-Lab Courtyard, Los Angeles, CA
2001 Original music opening for Maria Muldour, Marin County, CA
Charlie Haden's CalArts Liberation Orchestra, Los Angeles, CA
Original music opening for Eric Bibb at the Powerhouse, Sonoma County, CA
2000 Original music Pleasanton Festival, Pleasanton, CA
CalArts Balinese Gamelan at Skirball Center, Los Angeles
1999 CalArts Country Band performance at CalArts, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival, Bodega Bay, CA
1996 Apple Blossom Festival, Sebastopol, CA
1995 Monterey Blues Festival, Monterey, CA
Sonoma County Blues Festival, Santa Rosa, CA
Morro Bay Harbor Festival, Morro Bay, CA
San Francisco Chronicle Waterfront Festival, S.F., CA
Opening Guest Artist for Johnny Otis, Santa Rosa, CA
Opening Guest Artist for Marvin Hamlisch, Santa Rosa, CA
1994 Evolution of the Blues, Santa Rosa, CA
Monterey Blues Festival, Monterey, CA
Sonoma County Folk Festival, Santa Rosa, CA
1993 Sonoma County Blues Festival, Santa Rosa, CA
RECORDINGS
2003 "Sasha Laen Smith" solo release recorded at CalArts
2001 Sasha Smith Trio: "Live from Pleasantville" (BucknBronx Music)
1999 Complete Music for "Leonardo" an independent film by Max Reid
1998 "Connections" Compilation CD for KRCB
1998 Live video recording for "Bodega Bay Saturday Night"
1996 Music for "Safety Man" (safety video for the retarded)
Live video performance for broadcast on KRCB and KFTY television
Six Untitled Compositions (BucknBronx Music)
1995 "Spring" (BucknBronx Music) solo piano
1994 "Straight Up" (BucknBronx Music) instrumental only
EDUCATION
2001-2002 — President of the California Institute of the Arts Student Body
1999-2003 — CalArts Musical Arts Program
1999 — Recording apprenticeship with Tom Waits and Les Claypool