Daniel Smith

Biography

With his many critically acclaimed award-winning recordings and live performances, Daniel Smith is the most recorded bassoon soloist in the world, with a repertoire spanning music from jazz to classical and crossover. As the only bassoonist performing and recording in both jazz and classical, his unique career has been profiled in numerous publications; described as the ‘Gerry Mulligan of the Bassoon’ in the world of jazz, and the ‘Rampal of the Bassoon’ in classical music. Daniel Smith’s historic 5 CD box set of the complete 37 Vivaldi bassoon concertos, recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra and The Zagreb Soloists, was chosen as ‘Best Concerto Recording’ of the Year’ by the Music Industry Association. His pioneering crossover albums, ‘Bassoon Bon Bons’ and ‘Bravo Bassoon’, have demonstrated how versatile the bassoon can be in adapting music in other genres to the instrument. His critically acclaimed jazz albums, ‘Bebop Bassoon’ and ‘The Swingin’ Bassoon’ (Zah Zah) were followed by ‘Blue Bassoon’ and ‘Bassoon Goes Latin Jazz!’ (Summit). Other recordings of Daniel Smith can be found on Vox, MHS, KemDisc, Pearl, Spectrum, Cambria, Regis, Crystal and Forum. Noteworthy performances include premieres of Gunther Schuller’s ‘Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra’, Steve Gray’s ‘Jazz Suite for Bassoon and Orchestra’ and Robert Farnon’s jazz-oriented bassoon concerto, ‘Romancing the Phoenix’. Smith has presented solo concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen. His many recordings are heard throughout the world on jazz and classical radio stations, National Public Radio in the USA, on major airlines for in-flight listening, as well as being featured with leading book and record clubs and the Muzak network. Winner of the annual Jazz Station Poll as ‘Player of the Year’, Daniel Smith has also been voted ‘Rising Star’ by the Downbeat critic’s poll and nominated twice by the Jazz Journalists Association as finalist for their ‘Player of the Year’ award. In Great Britain, Smith was designated as ‘Ambassador for the Bassoon, along with the City of Luton presenting the ‘Daniel Smith Season’; showcasing his talents in concerto performances, in recital with piano, and in a jazz concert with his quartet. Performances with his acclaimed jazz ensemble, ‘Bassoon and Beyond’, include appearances in NYC at Puppets Jazz Club, Café Vivaldi, The Tea Lounge, The Kitano Jazz Club (5 times), the Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall, the Brooklyn VA Hospital, and at Barge Music. Other performances featuring jazz include the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Twins Jazz Club in Washington D. C., The University of South Carolina, Club Harlem in Barcelona, ‘Pizza On The Park’ (6 times) in London, The Summerwinds Festival in Germany, as well as numerous appearances in the UK, Spain, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Universal Music currently features his classical and crossover albums on the Internet for download listening. Upcoming projects include a world premiere of ‘Brazilian Jazz Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra’ by Joao MacDowell, a new all-blues jazz album to be released sometime in 2013, and an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) which will display his career and skills to presenters, jazz clubs and festivals world-wide.