About

Eric Heveron-Smith is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who pulls myriad influences- jazz and swing, soul and funk, indie rock and folk, music from West Africa, China, and beyond- into songs full of gentle wit, earnest joy, and transcendent wonder at the world around us. 

Along with a huge variety of sideman work over the past 20 years, Eric has three main projects he leads- an original indie-folk band called Einstein's Dreams, a jazz/funk/blues power trio called Swordfish Collective, and a solo, live-looping, multi-instrumental show. He tours regularly with rising blues star Gabe Stillman, swing bandleader Gordon Webster (playing in Quebec, Korea, and beyond), and Head To The Roots, a funky, jam-adjacent rock band. 

“The term multi-instrumentalist gets thrown around a lot these days, but Heveron-Smith earns it,” (Roc City Paper) playing upright and electric bass, trombone, and tuba on tour across 45 states and 6 Canadian provinces (plus South Korea, Sierra Leone, The Netherlands, and Belgium) with YouTube supergroup Postmodern Jukebox, swing musicians like Gunhild Carling, Gordon Webster, and Sweet Megg, and Americana, roots and blues artists like Gabe Stillman, Miss Tess, and the Resonant Rogues. He has opened for B.B. King, Tower of Power, Jake Shimabukuro, and Keb Mo’, and played one beautiful gig with pop legend Michael McDonald. 

In 2023, Eric attended the Silk Road Project’s Global Musicians Workshop, where he studied with cellist Mike Block, Chinese guzheng player Mei Han, and Malian balafon master Balla Kouyaté. This led him to collaborations with musicians from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, West Africa, Scotland, and more, including a trip to Sierra Leone to teach and perform at Telem Week, a songwriting retreat and festival. 

“Eric Heveron-Smith is not only an incredible multi-instrumentalist but an awesome touring companion. His ability to switch seamlessly between several instruments (bass, tuba, and trombone just to name a few) makes him one of the most valuable members of the band. He also has a charismatic and playful stage presence that compliments his fellow performers. Off stage, Eric is extremely down-to-earth, generous, and witty, making him the ideal bandmate.”
-Robyn Adele Anderson, Postmodern Jukebox

"Eric is an ideal musician - he is highly skilled, incredibly versatile, and thoroughly well rounded on many different instruments as well as sound engineering. And to top it off, he's about the most congenial and most ego-less person you could hope to meet."
-Jen Hodge, bandleader and upright bass player

“Eric is known for his musical thoughtfulness on the bandstand or in the studio. He has a constant awareness of the musical moment, and finds ways to contribute that make the sound more exciting and interesting with each passing beat, and always with his reliable charm and professionalism. Hands down one of my favorite people to work with!”
-Michael Gamble, bandleader of the Rhythm Serenaders and founder of Lindy Focus

Eric has a special way of really feeling music. He shines rhythmically and harmonically on all of his many instruments, in a way that feels effortless, inspired, and solid. We've played many diverse styles in several bands, and it's always a treat make music together.
-Sparrow, bandleader of The Resonant Rogues, Black Sea Beat Society, and Sparrow and Her Wingmen