Joe Smith is a Denver-based trumpet player, bandleader, and educator who regularly performs across the United States. Originally from Winterset, Iowa, Joe began studying piano at the age of 4 at the request of his grandmother, and picked up the trumpet at the age of 10. His passion for music grew immensely while performing in the drum and bugle corps activity, where he was a member of the Colts and Santa Clara Vanguard.

Joe has studied trumpet under the direction of Dr. Amy Schendel, Brad Goode, & Andy Classen. Joe has been mentored as a bandleader by Dan Barrett, Hal Smith, and Jeff Barnhart. In 2012 Joe graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Music.

Joe is well known for his ability to cover a wide range of musical styles, in particular, traditional jazz, swing, and early jump blues. Joe has led all-star big bands at festivals across the country. Joe has performed with Bria Skonberg, Bobby Floyd, Danny Coots, Brad Goode, Josh Collazo, David L. Harris, Jeff Barnhart, Mark Lopeman, Aaron Johnson, Josh Duffee, Jason Jurzak, Charlie Halloran, Miss Tammy Savoy, Kevin Smith, Louis Heriveaux, Louis Colaiannia, Colorado Brass, The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, & The Loveland Orchestra. Joe led the Colorado Brass Quintet at the NABBA championships in 2024, where the group took first place in the small ensemble division playing an original piece of music Joe commissioned for the group by Key Poulan, III.

In 2013 Joe formed The Spicy Pickles, a jazz and funk group pulling inspiration from Count Basie to James Brown and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. The Spicy Pickles have recorded fived full length albums, and multiple EP’s, with their original music featured in commercials around the world for UPS, LeoVegas, and Visit Seattle, and in the feature length film The Killing of a Sacred Deer, directed by Yargos Lanthimos. Touring coast to coast for over a decade the band has performed in over 30 states with performances on the main stage at the Telluride Jazz Festival, Sun Valley Jazz Festival, Redwood Coast Music Festival, Vail Jazz Festival, Elkhart Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Festival, Bohemian Nights, and others. In 2014 The Spicy Pickles’ music video “Movin’ Groovy” won the Seattle Jazz Dance Film Festival.

For over a decade Joe has worked as a producer and music director for jazz and swing dance festivals across the United States, including serving as music director for the Denver Jazz Festival for five years, and as an advisory board member for the Evergreen Jazz Festival. As an educator Joe has given clinics and lectures at The University of Colorado Boulder, The University of Iowa, The University of Colorado Denver, Redwood Coast Music Festival, and Evergreen Jazz Festival, as well as producing educational content for BAC Music Instruments.

Joe Smith performs exclusively on, and is a performing artist for Best American Craftsman (BAC) Custom Trumpets, and Denis Wick Mouthpieces and Mutes.

When not performing, Joe loves to spend time with his two sighthounds Lord Gherkin and Butter. He enjoys long motorcycle trips and cooking for friends.