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BIOGRAPHY
The leading
pioneer of the bassoon with his many critically acclaimed award-winning
recordings and live performances. As the most recorded bassoon soloist
in the world, his repertoire spans music ranging from Baroque concerti
to contemporary music including jazz, ragtime and crossover. He is the
only bassoonist performing and recording in both the jazz and classical
fields. Daniel Smith's unique career has been profiled in Gramophone,
the New York Times, Fanfare, Classical Music, Musical Heritage Review,
American Record Guide, Classic CD and many leading European publications
including The Times in England. In the USA, his career was highlighted
on PBS's "All Things Considered'. In the UK, one of his recordings
was the 'signature tune' for BBC radio 3 while BBC radio 4 recently showcased
his career.
Daniel Smith's performances include jazz with his quartet 'Bassoon and
Beyond', classical recitals with piano, concertos with orchestra, and
highly popular programs divided between classical and jazz, with music
ranging from Vivaldi, Elgar, Mozart and Verdi to Duke Ellington, John
Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie. Described
as a 'phenomenon', he has been called the 'Gerry Mulligan of the Bassoon'
in the world of jazz and the 'Galway' and 'Rampal of the Bassoon' in the
world of classical music, bringing his unique sound and style to concert
series, festivals and jazz clubs.
His historic and unprecedented 6 CD set on ASV
of the complete 37 Vivaldi bassoon concertos was chosen as 'Best Concerto
Recording of the Year' by the Music Industry Association and awarded the
Penguin Guide's coveted *** rosette rating as well as inclusion in Fanfare's
annual 'Want List'. These concertos, recorded with The English Chamber
Orchestra and I Solisti di Zagreb, firmly established Daniel Smith as
a leading soloist on his instrument. His recordings with the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra and Caravaggio Ensemble for the ASV
White Line label produced innovate crossover albums, with
unique renditions of ragtime pieces, opera excerpts, and popular standards.
In the world of jazz, his albums on the Zah Zah label, 'BEBOP BASSOON'
and 'THE SWINGING BASSOON' showcase the music of Charlie Parker, Thelonious
Monk, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy
Gillespie and many other legendary jazz artists. Other recordings of Daniel
Smith are available on Vox, MHS,
KemDisc, Pearl, Spectrum, Cambria, Regis, Crystal and Forum labels.
His performances have included many firsts: The American West Coast premiere
of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gunther Schuller's 'Concerto for Contrabassoon
and Orchestra'; the world premiere of Steve Gray's 'Jazz Suite For Bassoon'
with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra; solo concerts at New York's Lincoln
Center and the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, and also five appearances
at London's 'Pizza On The Park' with his jazz quartet. Other major venues
where he has performed include New York's Carnegie Recital Hall (two appearances)
and the Merkin Concert Hall. In London, the Wigmore Hall (three times),
St.John's Smith Square, and the BBC Concert Hall. His many recordings
are heard throughout the world on classical and jazz radio stations, National
Public Radio in the USA, major airlines for in-flight listening, and featured
with leading book and record clubs as well as the Muzak network.
In 2003,
Daniel Smith was designated as 'Ambassador for the Bassoon' by Youth Music
in the UK.
In 2005, legendary composer/arranger ROBERT FARNON dedicated his final
composition to Daniel Smith. Entitled 'Romancing the Phoenix', this three
movement bassoon concerto for solo amplified bassoon with rhythm section
and full symphony orchestra in a jazz oriented style with symphonic overtones
was written specifically with Daniel in mind. Warner Chappell recently
published the score and parts with Robert Farnon's dedication to 'The
American virtuoso Daniel Smith' on the title page. World-wide premieres
of this exciting and innovative piece by one of the 20th Century's greatest
composer/arrangers will be announced shortly.
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“...the
Rampal or
André of the bassoon...Daniel Smith is a phenomenon!”
- MUSICAL HERITAGE REVIEW
“At
last! The bassoon enters into the world of jazz...for real.”
- JAMEY AEBERSOLD
“...A first rate bassoonist
who particularly relishes the lyric possibilities of his instrument.”
- NEW YORK TIMES
“Daniel
Smith shows that the bassoon can not only make convincing jazz but
that it can make sounds of great beauty too. Go and hear him! This
is a unique voice in jazz.”
- Dick Laurie, HOT NEWS
“Congratulations
to (Daniel) Smith are in order for achieving what no other bassoonist
has yet attempted on disc...”
- GRAMOPHONE
“...virtuoso
Daniel Smith shows that he can make the bassoon dance like Gerry
Mulligan's baritone sax.”
- Jack Massarik, EVENING STANDARD
“This
is enjoyably spontaneous music making.”
- PENGUIN GUIDE
“His
plaintive sound and deep doleful tone bring a new dimension to many
of the classic modern jazz compositions.”
- Keith Howell, JAZZ EXPRESS
“I
have no hesitation in stating that the bassoon has no better champion
than Daniel Smith.”
- MARTIN BOOKSPAN
(Celebrated music lecturer and writer as well as
the TV and radio 'voice' of 'Live at Lincoln Center' broadcasts
and New York Philharmonic radio and TV broadcasts).
“Aside
from being a wonderful bassoonist, Daniel Smith has the knack for
pulling many musical styles together and making them sound very
natural on the bassoon.”
- ROBERT SHERMAN
(WQXR Classical Radio show host in New York City)
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Details
of Daniel's career, performances
and recordings can also be found at:
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