Ithaca College's Gregory Smith and All That Jazz

 

Freshman Composer and Producer
Gregory Smith

Ithaca College freshman Gregory Smith arrived in New York with two objectives. The first was to succeed as a college student, the second was to bring his first album to fruition. He’d already launched the demo album before leaving for his freshman year at Ithaca College. Smith knew that the campus would house a hotbed of talent that would breathe life into his compositions. While working hard to keep up with the academic workload, and making friends, Smith set to work on finding the talent needed to breathe life into his compositions.

Jazz Professor at IC and
Saxophonist Bill Tiberio

A fortuitous pairing of Smith and his Jazz Band professor, Bill Tiberio, was the springboard making Gregory’s goal a shared passion. In addition, working with talented musicians who already loved jazz in his Jazz Band class, Gregory started to create inroads with fellow students who might be interested in recording his work. Having Tiberio on board was a great thrill for Smith.

When asked why a seasoned professor and musician in his own right would want to be a part of a first-semester-freshman’s project, Tiberio replied, “Greg’s sincerity of approach and his accomplishments already as a composer piqued my interest in performing his music.”

What was initially a small project to record a few songs, “…quickly blossomed into a full recording project, now released, and an opportunity to perform it live on the Ithaca College campus,” Tiberio remarked. He went on to state, “Greg’s music is soulful and intelligent, and will be well-received by the musical community at IC and outward from their as well.”

Senior at IC
Corey Stark

Having Tiberio on saxophone was a coup, but Gregory needed to find other musicians who are at the top of their game who were willing to create the album. Luckily, senior Corey Stark, an enormously talented multi-instrumentalist and composer, came on board the project at the pianist. Trevor Torres, composer and drummer extraordinaire, added his skill as a percussionist. “His understanding of the drum set and the application of complex rhythms as well as melodic quotations constantly create the perfect groove,” Smith explained. 

Senior at IC
Trevor Torres

Rounding out the quartet needed to make the album is Jake R. Smith, an incredibly talented left-handed bassist. Like Smith, he is also a student composer at Ithaca College.

Freshman Bassist
Jake R. Smith

Smith worked tirelessly on the project for his newly constructed band. He organized rehearsals before studio time – he wanted everything to run smoothly and as close to perfect as possible. Smith made connections in the Sound Recording Technology Department to help record the tracks and learned everything he possibly could on his own. Fellow IC students Amara Evans and Bella Chaine recorded the album.

After the recording session, Gregory poured over the pieces to edit them into a coherent, balanced, and polished finished product.

Creating this album is a dream come true for Smith. Upon closing Smith stated, “I truly hope everyone who listens to this work gets a different feeling out of each song. They all have a lot of love put into them, and they are all songs that I am inordinately proud.” As for the artists who performed Smith’s music, “The musicians I was able to get to perform these tunes are so skilled at their respective crafts, and I am so grateful to have worked with them.”

Now Smith and his fellow Ithaca College bandmates including Professor Bill Tiberio are holding a concert to perform songs from the album Red Corduroy Pants live. The event plays at Ithaca College’s Hockett Family Recital Hall on February 2, 2025 at 7p. Admission is free for all audience members.

Photos taken by: IC Freshman Greta Irico