Distant Lands (1992) John Dodge, (soprano sax); Gordon Butler , (fiddle, cello); Missy Raines , (bass); Norwood Yamini , (bass); Smith, (mandolin, nylon and steel string guitar, percussion) "When I first moved to the southwest I often heard people commenting on the incredible colors of the desert. I didn't see them, at least not right away. But soon your eye adjust, and the landscspe comes alive with a full palette of subtle, beautiful tones and hues". In Steve Smith's Distant Lands we hear these colors in music born of the desert southwest's simple beguiling beauty. Black crow, ancient cliffs, crumbling adobe, creosote shrub, ocotillo in bloom, purple rainstorm across a pale blue horizon- all familiar images set amidst a landscape of immense breadth and power. --Tom Huizinga, NPR'S Performance Today "Smith through his guitar and mandolin paints visions of the deserts of the Southwest." --Jim Lee (Simi Valley, CA), Dirty Linen

Other Places Times and Lives (1996) is an eclectic collection of songs and tunes including five originals from Steve ranging from solo instrumentals and vocal settings to bluegrass and mixed ensembles featuring vocals, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, mandola, mandocello, viola, tuba, cello, and bass. Featuring Tim O'Brien and Bart Trotter (fiddle), Jim Shearer (tuba), Jane Horton (harmony vocals), Bob Hull (bass), Gordon Butler (cello), Smith (mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar, vocals) "Other Places Times and Lives" is a triumph and firmly places Steve Smith amongst the nations best acoustic musicians. This is a recording that should make fans of traditional and contemporary folk music stand up and take notice." --David Brower KRWG FM Listening to Other Places Times and Lives, Musician and composer Steve Smith's newest release is like leafing through an old family photograph album. Like the faces in a faded album, each tune tells a story. Taken together, these tunes form a musical memoir, a loving homage to this native Virginian's musical roots and traditions and a celebration of his new life in his adopted home in New Mexico. --Susan J. Tweit (author)

Desert Night (2000) "Years ago a fine band named Cloud Valley made it's way across the national festival scene. I still recall a memorable performance at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, home of the National Flatpicking Championships. Steve Smith, the band's mandolinist (and also a fine guitar player) continued his professional career and has released several fine projects since the demise of Cloud Valley. The latest is his Desert Night CD, a collection of original music that covers a broad range from Celtic to American fiddle music and a few compositions that defy definition. This recording will rank among the top acoustic mandolin/guitar releases of the year in my opinion. Few mandolinists on the planet can write a body of music this large and of this quality and then have the musicianship to really pull it off. Give a listen to one of his original compositions on our MP3 page. Desert Night was produced by Tom Espinola and features Tom on a percussion, cello, bass and guitar. Also helping out are Ira Gitlin on bass and Lorraine Duisit on harp. Very highly recommended." --Mandolin Café (http://www.mandolincafe.com/pub.html) March 2000

In "Desert Night" Steve Smith's master musicianship again combines with a psychic ability to evoke the spirit of persons, places and things in his realm. --S. Derrickson Moore (Las Cruces Sun News)

Steve Smith Home Page

Last Updated June 29, 2000

Desert Night Music PO Box 7892 Las Cruces, NM 88001 desertnite@zianet.com