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Mauricio Smith

Mauricio Smith (11 July, 1931, Colón, Panamá - 3 August, 2002, Brooklyn, New York City) saxophone and flute player, called also "Señor Saxofón", was a giant of Latin music, a genius whose work helped the development of many of the great names that we know internationally today in salsa and Latin jazz. And Mauricio, in addition to being a renowned flutist, is also an arranger par excellence. He is one of the few Panamanian musicians who settled in New York and were able to get ahead in both the world of Latin and non-Latin music, thanks to his wisdom and talent. Smith was not only supremely talented with the flute; his skill with all types of saxophones has also been in high demand. According to Smith himself, his talent extends to knowing how to play piccolo, clarinet, harmonica (chromatic and blues), classical guitar, bass (upright and fender), vibraphone and Latin percussion. Although he did not generate many albums under his name, Mauricio Smith has recorded with many giants of Latin music, such as Candido, Mongo Santamaría, Tito Puente, Machito, Tito Rodríguez, Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Julio Gutiérrez, Jimmy Bosch , Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, Louie Ramírez, Orquesta Novel, Joe Cuba, Chico O'Farrill, the Conga Kings, and many others. On the American side, Smith has been notable, for example, on recordings with Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, Eartha Kitt, Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Smith was musical director of the orchestras of Mongo Santamaría, Tito Rodríguez, Chubby Checker, Machito, and others. He has also left his mark on Broadway, where he contributed his musical artistry to the plays “No No Nanette,” “Doctor Jazz,” “Raisin,” “The First,” “42nd Street,” and “West Side Story.” In addition, this prominent Panamanian musician made the musical arrangements for the films “Crossover Dreams” and “Sugar Hill” (by León Ichaso), and “Dyonisious” (by Jean Rouche). It is important to mention that Smith was one of the original musicians of the successful American show “Saturday Night Live.” As a supporting actor or extra, Mauricio has participated in television programs or films, such as The Bill Cosby Show, Law and Order, Saturday Night Live, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Six Degrees of Separation, Kojak, and Bringing Out the Dead. His son, Mauricio Smith Jr. is also a saxophone and flute player.