Percussionist Denver Smith is a world musician from “yaad”. Recognizing the call of music as a child, Denver started a journey from Montego Bay to Kingston to realize his dream. He has since made a name for himself locally as a master percussionist capable of adding the heartbeat and soul to any music through his drums.



Already described by several leading Jamaican musicians as a legend, Denver is carving out his place in Jamaican music. These days, Denver Smith has immersed himself in the creative process of bringing into being his debut album, tentatively entitled “Sounds From Afar”. Consisting of mostly original pieces, with a few cover songs, the album will add a new dimension to Jamaican music through an intriguing fusion of world rhythms and sounds.



The album will showcase Denver‟s myriad of talents as he not only composed many of the songs, he wrote most of the lyrics, produced them himself , and on many of the tracks he played all of the instruments. Underneath the global layers created, the music will touch audiences in a personal way as the stories are those of the human condition – relationships, spirituality, and family.



From his daughter‟s first words to the recent loss of a friend, Denver turns into music the experiences that colour his life and the lives of his listeners.



In 2009, Denver has added the experience of being a solo artist starting with an amazing performance at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay. Later in the year, he plans to launch his album to Jamaican and global audiences. What audiences will experience is the result of a journey that started with training in multiple instrument families at Alpha Boys‟ School. Despite the breadth of his training, Denver chose to specialize in percussion during his time with the Ashe Performing Arts Group. This fertile training ground paved the way for a career as percussionist.



Since leaving Ashe, Denver has become one of the most in demand percussionists in the Jamaican scene. He has worked with artistes of all genres including performances on shows and albums with Dwight Richards, Kathy Brown, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Prodigal Son, Carlene Davis, Dean Fraser, and most recently, the entire line-up for the charity show put on by Shaggy and Friends.



Denver Smith has toured internationally with artists such as Luciano and Jimmy Cliff, and performed on albums for Grammy winners Stephen and Damian „Junior Gong‟ Marley. The respect Denver has garnered in the Jamaican music industry is illustrated by the support he receives from his fellow musicians.



Denver Smith's album credits feature some of the top instrumentalists in Jamaica, and in performance he is supported by a few such examples. Christopher Downer, former percussionist for Jah Cure, and bassist Dale Brown, who has worked with Etana, are just two of the members of this group, which will take the products of this musical mind and turn them into amazing live music.



The years of performing arts training, the experience of working with some of Jamaica‟s foremost creators and international touring exposure have produced, in Denver Smith, a musician that incorporates reggae, jazz, pop, R&B, and various other musical styles into a unique synthesis.



His upcoming album, “Sounds From Afar”, will herald a change in the Jamaican music experience, and signal the start of another journey for this Jamaican son.