PraXmitH is a coeval of three musicians offering a praxis of improvisation.

Although the trio have performed and recorded together in various configurations of ensembles, crossing several genres of musical styles over many years, they have performed together only once as a trio, in January of 2020. This was the catalyst that began the excited recipe for the descent into Steve's studio to begin the process of creating the 5 journeys on this, their first release in the current trio configuration.

As a guitarist Stan Smith was a member of the Moacir Santos band in Los Angeles, and as a band leader in Columbus and regionally, has accompanied artists such as David Amram, David Ornette Cherry, Ali Ryerson and Mark Vinci. As a composer he has received Fellowship Awards from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council. His compositions have been performed internationally and recorded by the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Michael Cox, The Keith Henson Octet, The Afro Rican Ensemble, Nova Madrugada and Spectrum. His book Jazz Harmony on the Guitar; A Linear/Structural Approach is published by Hal Leonard. He is an associate professor of music in the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio where he has been the head of the jazz/contemporary guitar curriculum since 1978.

Breeze Smith played and toured in bands at an early age, in Ohio and Indiana, recording first in 1966. His growing interest in experimental and improvised music and his ever-expanding and percussive repertoire led him to incorporate playable metal sound sculptures into his drum / percussion universe.  His solo performances led to commissions for sound sculptures, including a commision by Stephen Wright. Some of his solo recordings being used in a documentary film.He has lived, performed and recorded in Ohio, California, Denmark and beyond, with artists such as David Ornette Cherry, Justo Amario, Ralph Buzzy Jones, Don Littleton, Roberto Miranda, Neneh Cherry, Rod Poole, Hannibal Lakumba, Dianne MacIntyre, Roger Hines, Dwight Trible, Trevor Ware, John Beasley, Billy Childs, Charles Owen, Maggie Brown, Eric Barber, Tony Green, Eddie Ray & Co, Willie Pooch Blues Band, duos with his wife, dancer / vocalist Cheryl Banks-Smith and more. 

Steve Perakis plays mostly basses, but his interest in many sounds and musics brought him to guitar, drums and keyboards, composing, arranging, being a bandleader and recording engineer. Performing and recording Avant Garde, Blues, Country, Experimental, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Polka, Pop, Rock, Soul, Surf and just about anything in between, including composing for Modern Dance. He has performed with Tito Puente Jr, The Benny Goodman Orchestra featuring Henry Cuesta, Louis Bellson, The Guy Lombardo Band, Eddie Clearwater, Johnny Vidacovich, former Sun Ra Arkestra member Cheryl Banks-Smith, Jerome Dillon - pre N.I.N., George Bedard, Mark Braun, Todd Hepburn, Carl Sonny Leyland, Liz Pennock and Dr Blues, Richard Lopez, The Sean Carney Band and a few hundred others. He has performed in the Midwest, Eastern and Southern US, as well as Europe, Thailand and Columbia.

Improvised / Composed by Steve Perakis, Breeze Smith and Stan Smith.
Produced by Steve Perakis, Breeze Smith and Stan Smith.

Recorded and mixed by Steve Perakis at Woodensoul Sound, Columbus, Ohio.
Mastered by Andy Kravitz.

© Steve Perakis, Breeze Smith and Stan Smith, 2021. All Rights Reserved. 

Cover Art by Eron Rauch
Layout and Design by Dan Rosenboom

ORENDA RECORDS 0091