Jazz Articles

Daniel Smith: The Swingin' Bassoon

by Jerry D'Souza
October 28, 2007

The bassoon is a difficult instrument to navigate. Yusef Lateef, Ken McIntyre and Frankie Trumbauer are among the few who have played it, although the fit into jazz is often less than tidy. Daniel Smith has sufficient technique to give his instrument of choice an interesting enough voice.

Smith has focus and creativity, which he shows to a large extent on this recording of standards. While he entices when he swings and stokes the flames of a ballad, there are ...

Daniel Smith: Bebop Bassoon

by Dan McClenaghan
May 28, 2006

The bassoon is rarely heard in jazz. The big, deep-toned double reed instrument is much more at home in the classical world. When encountered in a jazz setting, it's usually in larger ensemble recordings, painting dark colors in the harmonies. Saxophonist Wayne Shorter's classic Alegria (Verve, 2003) is a good example of the more common usage in the genre.Daniel Smith's Bebop Bassoon takes the instrument into uncharted territory--out front, with a piano/bass/drums rhythm section in support, like a ...

Daniel Smith: Bebop Bassoon

by Jim Santella
May 27, 2006

The unique sound of a bassoon brings a considerable amount of restraint to jazz. By its nature, the centuries-old instrument provides a suitable avenue for channeling cool, laid-back ventures; classical music has long depicted its gentle spirit with subtlety. Bassoonist Daniel Smith swings with hearty passion on this recording, alongside an acoustic piano trio that does a terrific job setting up standard jazz pieces such as “Sister Sadie," “Birks Works," “All Blues" and “Doxy." His virtuosity and the quartet's swinging ...

Daniel Smith: Bebop Bassoon

by Michael P. Gladstone
May 24, 2006

Daniel Smith has invested a lot of time and energy to bring the repertoire of the bassoon into ragtime, jazz and contemporary music. Smith has recorded such titles as Bassoon Bon Bons, Bravo Bassoon and The Swinging Bassoon, as well as performances of Gunther Schuller's “Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra" and Steve Gray's “Jazz Suite For Bassoon and Orchestra." As a result of his many and diverse bassoon recordings, he has received considerable media attention for his efforts. In 2005, ...

Chris Conway: Sounds Like Rain

by AAJ Staff
March 1, 2000

Sounds Like Rain is the newly re-mastered CD re-issue of a fine debut record by singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Conway. It appears from the liner notes that Conway is based in Europe, and has recorded several CD's under his own name. In addition to leading his own bands, Conway has worked with members of Jethro Tull, Farport Convention, and Vikki Clayton. For this CD, it appears that Conway is working in the non-real time format to produce layered harmonies and melodies, both ...