Welcome to the website of Mike Paul-Smith – I am a musical director, pianist, orchestrator/arranger and producer based in Warwick, UK, and I am the founder of Down for the Count, a swing and soul band regularly found at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Cadogan Hall, The London Jazz Festival and other prestigious theatres and events throughout the UK and abroad.
Musical Director
I am the musical director, principal arranger and manager of Down for the Count – a jazz, swing and soul band who have performed at thousands of events since I formed the band in 2005.
Our current focus is on our Concert Orchestra – a collaboration between the regular Down for the Count line-up and City String Ensemble. Together we make the Down for the Count Concert Orchestra, and we sound like this…
Orchestrator & Arranger
I am a busy orchestrator and arranger, writing for ensembles of all sizes. Here’s an original arrangement of mine performed by The Down for the Count Concert Orchestra.
Alongside my orchestration and arranging work for The Down for the Count Concert Orchestra, I have also had work performed by The London Musical Theatre Orchestra, West End Scratch Orchestra concerts at London’s Cadogan Hall, and City String Ensemble. I was recently challenged to make a medley of 3 Bond themes for City String Ensemble and here’s what I came up with!
Producer & Sound Engineer
I am a sound engineer, mix engineer and producer comfortable working in a wide variety of genres. Recent work has included producing a pop record for South African singer-songwriter Amy Walton.
I have a home studio in Warwick with a top quality upright piano and excellent keyboards and percussion, and a remote studio which can record up to 32 tracks of high-quality audio just about anywhere.
Read more about Mike’s sound engineering, production and home tracking
Pianist
I am versatile pianist and organist, equally happy performing jazz, classical and pop. I have performed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and at festivals and theatres throughout the UK and am happy to take bookings as a solo pianist or with bands and orchestras.
I am also available to accompany music exams in Warwickshire and the surrounding areas.