Monday, February 9, 2009

CD of the Day - "Daniel Smith: Blue Bassoon"

CD of the Day
Daniel Smith: "Blue Bassoon" (DS) 2008

As far as I know, the best jazz performance ever by a bassoon player. Daniel Smith is a classical virtuoso who knows how to swing and improvise superbly in a jazz context. Recorded on October 29 & 30, 2008, at Skyline Studios, NY, "Blue Bassoon" was produced by Robert Smith. Smith plays his ass off, backed by Martin Bejerano (piano), Edward Perez (bass) and Ludwig Afonso (drums). Guitarist Larry Campbell guests on two tracks.
The repertoire goes from Robert Johnson ("From Four Till Late") to Joe Zawinul ("Scotch and Water"). The "Charlie Parker of the bassoon" also flies high on themes by Horace Silver ("The Jody Grind"), Lee Morgan ("The Double Up"), Charles Mingus ("Nostalgia in Times Square"), Wayne Shorter ("Footprints"), John Coltrane ("Equinox"), Cannonball Adderley ("Sack O' Woe"), George Shearing ("Break Out The Blues") and, of course, Parker ("Billie's Bounce").

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