Recorded at StadiumRed Studios, Manhattan, NYC with an all star band, Smokin' Hot Bassoon Blues was released on the Summit label, world-wide, in February, 2014.

Daniel Smith	Bassoon
Robert Bosscher	Piano
Michael O'Brien	Bass
Vincent Ector	Drums

Ron Jackson	Guitar
Efrat Shapira	Violin
Neil Clarke	Latin Percussion
Greg 'Organ Monk' Lewis	Jazz Organ
Frank Senior	Blues Vocalist

DANIEL SMITH: BASSOON

One of today’s leading pioneers of the bassoon with many critically acclaimed award winning recordings and live performances, Daniel Smith’s repertoire spans music ranging from Baroque concerti to jazz, ragtime and crossover. He is the only bassoon soloist who has performed and recorded over the years in both the jazz and classical fields. Daniel Smith’s unique career has been profiled in numerous publications. In the USA, his career was highlighted on PBS’s “All Things Considered” while in the UK, BBC 4 showcased his career along with BBC2 featuring his music for their ‘signature tune’.

His historic and unprecedented recording of the complete 37 Vivaldi bassoon concertos for the ASV label was chosen as “Best Concerto Recording of the Year” by the Music Industry Association along with the Penguin Guide to Recorded CDs coveted *** rosette rating and inclusion in Fanfare magazine’s ‘Want List’ three years running. These recordings, recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra and I Solisti Di Zagreb firmly establish Daniel Smith as a leading soloist on his instrument. His recordings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Caraggio Ensemble, and pianist Jonathan Still for the ASV White Line label produced innovate crossover albums with unique renditions of ragtime pieces, opera selections, and popular and classical standards. In the world of jazz, his albums on the Zah Zah label, “Bebop Bassoon” and “The Swingin’ Bassoon” showcase the music of Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, and many other legendary jazz artists. These albums were followed by his all-blues album, ‘Blue Bassoon’ on the Summit label in 2010, garnering 60 outstanding reviews and extensive world wide airplay.

His performances have included many firsts: the American West Coast premiere of Gunther Schuller’s concerto for contrabassoon and orchestra, the world premiere of Steve Gray’s ‘Jazz Suite for Bassoon and Orchestra’, solo concerts at both Lincoln Center in NYC and the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, as well as several appearances at London’s ‘Pizza on the Park’ with his jazz quartet. Other venues include appearances at NYC’s Carnegie Recital Hall and the Merkin Concert Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, BBC Concert Hall and St. John’s Smith Square.

In 2003 Daniel Smith was designated as ‘Ambassador of the Bassoon’ by Youth Music in the UK; in 2008 he was voted as finalist by the Jazz Journalists Association for their ‘Player of the Year’ award in the category of ‘Instruments Rare in Jazz’; in 2009 he presented the world premiere performance of Robert Farnon’s bassoon concerto ‘Romancing the Phoenix’ in the UK with the Chandos Symphony Orchestra, and in 2010, was voted by the Downbeat jazz critics poll as ‘Miscellaneous Instrument Rising Star’ and an unprecedented second time by the Jazz Journalists Association as finalist for their ‘Player of the Year’ award. In 2011, he was winner of the Jazz Station’ poll in their category of miscellaneous instruments in jazz.

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ROBERT BOSSCHER: PIANO

Dutch keyboard artist Robert Bosscher’s skills as pianist, composer and arranger have brought him recognition in the worlds of jazz and r&b. His diverse recording and performing exerience includes work with such legendary figures as Billy Hart, Scott Wendholt, Mike Manieri, The Platters, The Trampps, and Roy Hargrove among others. He has performed at many major New York jazz venues including The Blue Note, Birdland, The Plaza Hotel Oakroom, The Zinc Bar and Cleopatra’s Needle. His recording of original works, ‘Multiple Views’, was released to critical acclaim in January of 2013 and features musical legends Billy Hart on drums and Scott Wendolt on trumpet/ flugel horn.Robert Bosscher also performed in June, 2013 at the royal wedding of Dutch princess carolina and Albert Brenninkmeijer in Florence, Italy.

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MICHAEL O'BRIEN: BASS

Michael O’Brien has been performing and composing internationally for over a decade with such notables as Harry Connick Jr., Ruben Blades, The Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Gene Pitney, Dave King, Ted Nash, Ari Hoenig, Matt Wilson, Joshua Breakstone, Elliot Zigmund, Todd Reynolds, Bruce Barth, Marc Anderson to name a few. He has performed at many major festivals including the Lincoln Center Festival, IAJE (International Jazz Educators conference) PASIC (Percussive Arts Societies International Convention) and the American Composers Forum. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded by leading figures in the jazz and music world while his string quartet arrangement of ‘Pine’ was performed at the Kennedy Center. Michael O’Brien has taught at clinics and master classes throughout the United States and in Europe.

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VINCENT ECTOR: DRUMS

Vincent Ector is one of the leading drummers on the jazz scene today. A listing of major artists he has worked with in concert and on recordings reads like a ‘who’s who’ in the world of jazz. Among these are such as Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, Hank Jones, Charles Earland, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Gloria Lynne, Bobby Watson, Lou Donaldson, Grover Washington Jr, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Pat Martino, Ron Carter, Claudio Roditi, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All Stars and Shirley Scott. He performs regularly in NYC with ensembles such as the Charles Mingus Orchestra and Big Band, The George Gee Orchestra and his own band in such venues as The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Smoke and the Jazz Standard. His recordings as a leader include ‘Renewal of the Spirit’ and ‘Rhythm Master’. Vince Ector has performed at many of the world’s leading jazz festivals, theatres and jazz clubs and is highly active in the music education field. His many awards include numerous ASCAP Plus Awards, NY City Council Citation, NJ State Council on the Arts Teaching Artist in Music designation and a Puffin Foundation Artist Grant Award. He is also a Mapex Drums and Vic Firth endorsed artist.

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RON JACKSON: GUITAR

Guitarits Ron Jackson’s career and accomplishments reads like a ‘who’s who’ in regard to the countless jazz greats he has collaborated with over the years. A short list of such major figures would include Randy Weston, Rufus Reid, Oliver Lake, James Spaulding. Jimmy McGriff, Lonnie Smith, Benny Golson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Benny Green, Lonnie Plaxico, Dewey Redman, Gary Bartz, Greg Lewis and Russell Malone. Performing as leader or sideman at virtually all of the major jazz clubs in NYC, including the Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium and others, he also has seven solo ablums to his credit on a variety of labels, many of which have won awards. Ron Jackson has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe and is considered one of the premier jazz guitarists in the jazz world.

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EFRAT SHAPIRA: VIOLIN

Efrat Shapira is a versatile performer on the violin who’s skills are much in demand in many musical styles; jazz, bluegrass, Latin, gypsy, pop, klezmer, classical and many more! Her live performances and studio work have teamed her up with numerous major figures in the music world, and in settings ranging from classical to pop and jazz. Prior to her settling in New York where she now resides, she toured with an orchestra under the direction of Zubin Mehta and was also concertmaster for the Olivia Newton John Orchestra (Grease). Efrat Shapira is also an accomplished arranger, singer and composer.

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NEIL CLARKE: LATIN PERCUSSION

A legendary performer of percussion instruments for over 40 years, Neil Clarke’s skill and artistry has taken him on numerous occasions to North, West and South Africa, Latin America, The Caribbean, Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, and much of the USA. In addition to his long association of more than 13 years with Harry Belafonte, Neil Clarke has toured and recorded with such notable artists as Randy Weston, Benny Powell, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, Miriam Makeba, Paul Winter, Arthur Prysock, Alex Blake, Talib Kibwe, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Letta Mbulu, Carlos Garnet, The Spirit Ensemble, Noel Pointer, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The International African American Ballet and many others. He performed in the Broadway production of Timbuktu and the feature film Beat Street as well as numerous television appearances on both network and cable presentations.

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GREG 'ORGAN MONK' LEWIS: JAZZ ORGAN

Nominated as finalist in 2013 by the Jazz Journalists Association in the category of Jazz Organ for their prestigious JJA Jazz Awards, Greg ‘Organ Monk’ Lewis follows in the footsteps of jazz organ greats Jimmy Smith and Dr. Lonnie Smith. His recording of ‘Organ Monk’ received a rave review in the New York Times from jazz critic Ben Ratliff, while his earlier albums, ‘American Standard’ and ‘Uwo in the Black’, have brought his incredible virtuosity to the attention of jazz critics world-wide. His live performances have received raves from audiences who heard him perform in concert at venues ranging from Cartegna, Columbia to Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center...and countless others in between. Greg ‘Organ Monk’ Lewis is a major force to be reckoned with in the jazz world!

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FRANK SENIOR: BLUES VOCALIST

Blind from birth, Frank Senior is a native New Yorker who was raised in Harlem, and where jazz played a major role in his musical career. His style of singing includes jazz, blues, standards and gospel. Frank Senior has appeared at the Village Gate, Bryant Park, The Blue Note, Sweetwater’s and numerous other venues. He has worked with many jazz legends, including such as Dakota Staton, Abbey Lincoln, Kenny Baron, George Coleman and Barry Harris, as well as being featured at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, He is also recipient of a prestigous award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Frank Senior’s recent solo albums include “Let Me Be Frank’, ‘Music Speaks Louder Than Words’ and ‘It’s About Time’. A PBS documentary on his life and career, ‘Sound of Vision’. was winner, Best Film-International Documentary Challenge, and is available on PBS.org, A second documentary about his career is ‘Just Be Frank’, directed by Elise Bialylew.

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QUOTES from worldwide reviews of
Smokin' Hot Bassoon Blues:

Click the quotes below to read the full review:

'Blitzing through passages akin to Charlie Parker on sax'

'A pioneer in jazz taking the bassoon where no artist has dared to go.'

'A must for any jazz lover who can appreciate something out of the ordinary.'

'I defy anyone to listen to this new album and not get caught up in the positive energy it exudes so abundantly.'

'An amazing album.. Words cannot describe what he does..you simply have to hear it!'

'A showcase of exquisite blues played with verve and fire'

'The celebrated bassoonist proves just as at home fronting a jazz lineup as a chamber orchestra.'

'Daniel Smith adds his deft touch on his latest project.'

'Acknowledged as one of greatest players of his instrument in his time...and he really is!'

'Genius bassoon player. Reminds me of tenor sax players.'

'Smokin' Hot Bassoon Blues' is more than hot, it's scorching!'

'May he be a big influence on the next generation of bassoon players!'