ABOUT US

The word RHYTHM(S)MYTH is a multi-faceted play on words: The mechanical Smyth is a sewing process of attaching sections of a book together. And songwriting, whether composing instrumental music or writing lyrics, at its core to me is story telling. My songs are my stories, my book.

The name Smyth or Smith is given to someone who worked at a forge, someone who constructs, builds or produces something - it's a reference to a skilled worker - like a great writer is called a "wordsmith." I am a music-smith.

I chose the antiquated spelling of "Smyth" because it contains the word "myth" itself. I was put in various boxes because of the myth that you can't be great in one area if you're involved in many areas, and you certainly can't be great at lots of things. My musical encouragement had first been provided to me by my mom and dad then in college I heard Phil Woods say in a clinic that too many people wanted to be a jazz musician, or a classical musician, or a pop musician when you should simply be a MUSICIAN. And he certainly proved that possibility as have numerous others.

The first time I used the RHYTHM(S)MYTH moniker was for a record called "The Road So Far" featuring songs I had written based on characters from the first five seasons of the hit television series "Supernatural." The next time RHYTHM(S)MYTH was used was with a jazz quintet performing for the guest artist series at the Chautauqua Institution. We played my arrangements of some of classical music's best known and loved melodies - Pictures at an Exhibition, a medley of the great 9th symphonies, the 1812 Overture and others.

I am now in the next phase of developing the RHYTHM(S)MYTH concept. Our mission statement says that "Rhythm[s]myth is a concept of aural and visual arts where music, lyric poetry, lighting, staging, dress, video, and performance art come together and support each other in an immersive experience of our shared humanity to benefit others."

No one goes into a project of this undertaking without fully being committed to it and believing it will succeed at the highest level and we believe that it will because of the underlying intention of what we are doing. Our goal is to play big shows all over the world, and yes - make a living - but to pick a charity in each city and leave behind the overwhelming majority of all profits generated by the performance. In addition, we will volunteer at the designated charity while we are there. I am fortunate to teach and make an impact in the lives of my students but I continually ask myself "how can I do more? What do I have to offer the world that could make a broader impact across the nation and the world?" The prevailing thought is "the more that I have, the more that I could do." I have begun to imagine that "what I can do will do more than I have."

Welcome to RHYTHM(S)MYTH.

- Jeffrey Scot Wills