WORLD PREMIERE OF ROBERT FARNON'S BASSOON CONCERTO 'ROMANCING THE PHOENIX'

Sept. 13, 2009
The Forum Theatre, Malvern, UK


Daniel Smith will be featured soloist in the world premiere of Robert Farnon's jazz-oriented bassoon concerto 'Romancing the Phoenix' on Sept.13, 2009. Daniel will be supported by the renowned Chandos Orchestra, led by Michael Lloyd, at the 850 seat Forum Theatre in Malvern (UK)

The 25 minute, three movement concerto, will feature enlarged wind sections as well as a jazz rhythm trio of piano, bass and drums on stage alongside the full orchestra. Included within the movements will be improvisational sections featuring Daniel with the jazz trio.

Shortly before his untimely death in 2005, Robert Farnon sought out
Daniel Smith with this concerto in mind. Calling it the 'best' piece of music he ever wrote, Farnon wrote the concerto, which required virtuosity in both the classical and jazz idioms, with the unique skills of Daniel Smith in mind.

Warner Chappell has published the score and parts with Robert Farnon's dedication to Daniel Smith on the title page. As the only piece of music written by Robert Farnon which has never been performed in public, this concerto premiere will be a fitting tribute to the memory of one of the 20th century's greatest composer/arrangers.

JAZZ JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AWARDS 2008

DANIEL SMITH AS FINALIST!

Daniel Smith was nominated as one of five finalists for the 2008 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Award in the category of: Player of the Year of Instruments Rare in Jazz.

As the first bassoonist to be so honored in the 12 year history of the Jazz Journalists Association, Daniel Smith was chosen by the 400 voting members for his unique contribution and outstanding accomplishments as a jazz bassoonist. Howard Mandel, president of the JJA, commented at the awards ceremony that finalists selected by the voting members were all chosen on their merits as being outstanding artists in the world of jazz.

With this latest honor following his being recognized as one of the world's premiere classical bassoon soloists, Daniel Smith has now achieved equal recognition in the world of jazz, continuing his pioneering efforts in making the bassoon into a major and important solo instrument.

WEBSITE VISITORS REACHES 28,000
Daniel Smith's website now has over 28,000 visitors, indicating a growing awareness of Daniel's career and unique artistry. We wish to thank all those fans, agents, record companies and others for their continued interest and support of Daniel' pioneering efforts to promote the bassoon as a major solo instrument. We look forward to the website clocking up 29,000 very soon.

Watch this space!

Daniel Smith's performance at the press launch of his latest CD 'The Swingin' Bassoon' has received great reviews. Here are two of them:

"If jazz bassoonist Daniel Smith comes to play in your back yard - go and hear him. You’ve never heard anything like it before!"

THAME (pronounced “tame”) is a charming old market town in the county of Oxfordshire, close to the Chiltern Hills and just 14 miles east of Oxford, UK. This week, the town was anything but “tame” when jazz bassoonist DANIEL SMITH and THE JONATHAN GEE TRIO appeared at JAZZ EDDIE’S CONCERT JAZZ event in Thame Concert Jazz Club.

Jazz bassoon? Well - why not?! As a bassoon player myself, I have the greatest admiration for Daniel Smith’s expertise and musicianship with this unique sounding beautiful instrument. As Daniel points out to the audience “there is no role model for the jazz bassoonist”. He gave an excellent demonstration of how to bend notes and made the comment that classically trained musicians and those who know nothing about jazz tell him he is sometimes out of tune when playing jazz bassoon. What Daniel actually does is bend notes and inflect like a tenor saxophone player. This is a foreign sound to our ears and heard “live” on stage is wonderful. Jazz HAS to be heard live. Listening to a CD can never ever replace the excitement of that moment when you hear and watch talented folk play right in front of you. That magical moment can never be repeated.
However, next best thing has to be owning Daniel’s latest CD “The Swingin’ Bassoon”. Buy it. Listen to it and then go and hear him play live.

The evening just got better and better. Daniel was superbly supported by Jonathan Gee on keyboard, Steve Rose on double bass and Winston Clifford on drums. The Jonathan Gee Trio have been working together for several years performing at jazz venues and festivals throughout the UK & Europe. They have played regularly at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London and supported many great players.

If jazz bassoonist Daniel Smith comes to play in your back yard - go and hear him. You’ve never heard anything like it before!

- Catriona M M Webster

Jonathan Gee, Steve Rose, Daniel Smith and Winston Clifford. 28 Nov 2007

"The audience was spellbound with the lovely lyrical and warm tonal quality Daniel Smith achieved from his deep voiced instrument playing great jazz standards."

Born in the USA, Daniel Smith, spent his early years listening to the great giants of jazz such as Count Basie in his home town New York City.

Classicallly trained, he has with this background, sucessfully crossed over seamlessly to the jazz world with his mastering of a cumbersome and somewhat ungainly instrument 'the bassoon.'

The audience was spellbound with the lovely lyrical and warm tonal quality daniel smith achieved from his deep voiced instrument playing great jazz standards. Indeed, I was so impressed with his new cd, he kindly gave me, that I played three tracks, something I have never done before.

Daniel was ably backed up with pianist Jonathan Gee on keyboards, Steve Rose on double bass and Winston Clifford on drums, who made an altogether delightful evening of jazz at Jazz Eddies great venue at Thame, Oxon, England.

-Dave Self, Radio Jazz Presenter & Producer / tvu . Blast 1386. (On the web) & Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio.

THREE NEW MANAGEMENT AGENCIES FOR DANIEL SMITH

We are please to announce the prestigious music agency Horst Papeler-Dütsch/Proton Musikmanagement of Berlin will now be representing Daniel Smith in Europe. Future performances to be announced on this site will include festivals, concerts and jazz clubs in several of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg and France.

ARTEMEDIOS EUROPE LATIN AMERICA will now be representing Daniel Smith in: Italy, Spain, Portugal and Latin America.

Concert Jazz/Classical Productions UK (Edward M. Fowler, Director) will represent Daniel in the UK.

Details of all these agencies can be found on 'Management Page' of this website.

New Regis release

Regis have just released a selection of Daniel Smith's recordings of Vivaldi's Bassoon concertos. Performing with the English Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Philip Ledger, Daniel's virtuosity can be heard on 7 of Vivaldi's most popular concertos for the bassoon.

more...

NEW FOR 2007!
THE SWINGIN' BASSOON
Following on the tremendous success of Bebop Bassoon, we are pleased to announce that The Swingin' Bassoon has now been released. Further information will be posted in the coming weeks.

Information, reviews, articles and much more can be found on our new page THE SWINGIN BASSOON...

FEATURED DOWNLOAD SELECTION WITH ALL ABOUT JAZZ!

Charlie Parker's 'Scrapple from the Apple', from Daniel Smith's album 'The Swingin' Bassoon', is now the featured musical download selection on the prestigious jazz website ALL ABOUT JAZZ.

• 'SONIC' MAGAZINE (Germany) features an interview with Daniel Smith. (English translation available on this website shortly)

• There will be another such article in the German magazine 'JazzZeitung' in their November/December edition.

Airlines which have featured the recordings of Daniel Smith for in-flight listening:

Continental
Lufthansa
Quantas
Delta
New Zealand
American
United Arab Emirates
Sri Lankan
TWA
United
Phillipines
Finnair
Air France
South African

Tickhill, Doncaster
Wolverhampton Music Society
Ryedale Festival, Yorkshire
Chester Music Society
Lytham-St. Annes Music Circle
Macclesfield Music Society
Strathdee Music at Aboyne (Aberdeen)
Sowerby Music (North Yorkshire)

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival
Marine Room, Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-On-Sea
Petworth Festival
Norwich Playhouse
University of Essex, Colchester
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Edinburgh Jazz Projects
Barcelona Jazz Festival
Boxwood Fleece
Jamey Aebersold's Jazz Clinic, Queen Charlotte's Hall, Richmond
Pizza On The Park, London (5th appearance)
Harlington Festival
Aylsham Concerts, Holt (2nd appearance)
The Nave Arts Centre, Uxbridge
The Quay Theatre, Sudbury

Luton Music Club
Stopsley Church, Stopsley, Luton
Cuffley Concert Club
Duff House, Banff, Scotland
Nassau (Bahamas) Music Society
Boston Concert Club
Abbotsbury Music Festival
Westbourne Music Club (Glasgow)
West Wight Arts Association