Dr. J. B. Smith is Professor of Music and the Coordinator of Percussion Studies in the School of Music at Arizona State University. He is internationally recognized as a performer, educator, composer, and conductor.

Robert Spring has been described as "one of this country's most sensitive and talented clarinetists", Arizona Republic, "dazzled his audience...flawless technique", The Clarinet Magazine, "a formidable soloist...played with great emotional life", Copenhagen, Denmark, Politiken. 

Spring’s recording of Joan Tower's works for clarinet was described by The Clarinet Magazine as "truly outstanding....one would be hard pressed to find better performances of contemporary music.... performed with the highest professional standards."  The Instrumentalist Magazine says of his recording, "Dragon's Tongue", "His musicality and technique make this recording a must for every CD collection." Fanfare Magazine says of the CD, "Tarantelle", music that violinist Jascha Heifetz recorded on violin, being performed on clarinet, "This recording was meant to amaze and, man, it succeeds." The America Record Guide writes about his recording of the Copland Clarinet Concerto, “Spring is fabulous in the Copland. His phrasing is elegant swing tailored with great flow and a spread of tone colors and expressive subtleties. His low- and mid-range are especially warm, rich, and embracing and highly effective in the introduction and in the bridge to the jazzy finale. And boy what a finale! The pace is neatly judged to pick up at critical junctures so that, by the end, it feels like an improvised jam session."

Spring was awarded three degrees from the University of Michigan, as well as the "Citation of Merit Award", where he studied with John Mohler, David Shifrin, and Paul Shaller. He was President of the International Clarinet Association from 1998-2000 and has performed for numerous International Clarinet Association conventions. Spring is Professor of Clarinet at Arizona State University and is a Buffet Artist, performing exclusively on their Greenline Clarinet.

At the Desert's Edge features concert music for clarinet and percussion performed by Robert Spring and J. B. Smith. Their CD "At the Desert's Edge" features music from their concert tours including works written for them by Glenn Hackbarth and Norbert Goddaer.