Eric Heveron-Smith is a multi-instrumentalist from Rochester, NY who has spent the last two decades honing his trombone and bass skills on stages all across North America. A founding member of Moonshine Rhythm Club, he has toured and recorded with many of the big names on the vintage swing scene including Gunhild Carling, Gordon Webster, and the genre-bending YouTube collective Postmodern Jukebox. His own original music, under the band name Einstein’s Dreams, incorporates indie folk, soul, jazz, and chamber music.
As a bass player, his impeccable time and rich acoustic tone lay down a solid foundation for everything from hard driving swing to slow, grooving blues. His trombone playing ranges from lyrical and melodic to bluesy and expressive, while his tuba playing is bold and funky, yet refined.
After studying trombone under Steve Davis at the Hartt School, Eric moved to New York City in 2007. There he found a home in the trad jazz scene during the early days of the now-legendary Mona’s Tuesday night jam. After borrowing a friend’s extra upright bass, Eric convinced swing bandleader Solomon Douglas to start hiring him on bass instead of trombone. That led to tours across the United States and Canada, gigs with rising trumpet star Bria Skonberg, and countless lindy hop exchanges with bandleaders like Jonathan Stout and Michael Gamble.
Forming a new Django-inspired band in Nashville in 2014, Moonshine Rhythm Club, Eric began to step forward into the spotlight more as a singer. The band released four EPs (all mixed by Eric), collaborating with musicians like Sweet Megg, Russ Wilson, and Duffy Jackson (drummer with the Count Basie Orchestra).
Eric currently hosts a vintage jazz and swing session with Gordon Webster on the first Sunday of every month at Faircraft Brauhaus in Rochester. He can be found playing jazz, pop, soul, and funk all over Western New York.