Steve Smith and Tom Espinola

(540) 675-1777, (505) 525-0559,

e-mail desertnite@zianet.com

http://www.zianet.com/desertnite

Steve Smith and Tom Espinola perform a wide range of original and traditional oriented instrumental and vocal music reflecting their backgrounds in Bluegrass, Celtic, Jazz, Chamber and South American styles. Performed on mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, guitars, voice and percussion their music takes the listener from chamber and old time mountain styles to the light and animated in the stroke of a pick. Espinola and Smith first came together as teacher/student with Espinola mentoring Smith on mandolin. In 2000 with Espinola as producer of Smith's Desert Night cd the mold for this duo was cast. Espinola makes his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains while Smith lives in southern New Mexico.

 

Teacher and composer Tom Espinola is experienced in traditional, bluegrass, jazz, classical and avant garde music. He has taught mandolin, guitar and music theory for over twenty five years and has performed in many ensembles including New Morning String Band, and Nothin' Doin'. Espinola has performed and recorded with Bruce Hornsby, Stephen Bennett, Peter Rowan, Mac Wiseman, Jethro Burns and has done workshops with Bill Monroe. He has written for chamber orchestra, theater, and dance groups, and one of his multi-media pieces was featured in "New Music America" festival in Washington D.C. He was commissioned to arrange for the Paul Winter Consort and for Trapezoid, who recorded his arrangements on Cool of the Day, Another Country, and Now and Then. Tom's own music can be heard on Feather River and Which Way Waltz.

 

Steve Smith has performed for over twenty years on mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar, and vocals. He has performed in the Nothin' Doin' and Cloud Valley,the western swing group The Desperados, the Irish trio Balleyheigue, the new acoustic-jazz group Steve Smith Quintet and the bluegrass group Evans, Raines, Hurst and Smith. Steve has also performed with Robin and Linda Williams, Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, Peter Rowan, Eliza Gilkyson and many more. His music has been heard on the Weather Channel and in the theater and he has toured nationally and in Europe  as a solo musician and in various ensembles. Steve is a regular staff member at Camp Bluegrass in Levelland Texas each year . Along with his touring, Smith maintains a busy teaching schedule for mandolin and guitar as well as doing workshops for groups and individuals. You can hear Steve's recorded music on Distant Lands, Other Places Times and Lives and Desert Night.

last updated: June 11, 2002

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