Gone with the Swing Music

This is one of my favorite CD's from Daniel Smith's recordings. I am continually delighted by the range of his virtuosity. From Vivaldi to Joplin, the rich tones of his bassoon pleases the ear. I am a particular fan of his jazz performances.

Having heard Mr Smith in Classical Concerts as well as playing superb jazz I cannot recommend highly enough any of his recordings. His Vivaldi concerto recordings have received awards both here in the UK and in the US. This apart from a full page in the Penguin Review of CDs, reviews in Classic CD and Fanfare as well as articles on his life and work, and his great passion for his instrument and his wish to make it better known throughout the world both as a classical instrument and also for jazz. The disc in question is not only enjoyable music to hear but contains great playing. I have had many hours of very happy listening to Bravo Bassoon and the Vivaldi Concerto recordings. I urge you to listen to these discs and to include them in your record library.

One of the most delightful and surprising discs I have run across is Bravo Bassoon. I came upon Daniel Smith with his classical hat on; but I love this recording with its range of music from Joplin through Schubert and Gershwin. In this age of "crossover" this is a truly inspired choice of repertory; and the unusual use of the bassoon is enchanting. Try the Joplin tracks, or the Melody in F by Rubinstein. The adaptations of the music are really good. I loved the choice of music -- I think it is a really well-balance programme for this kind of disc -- and the sensitive accompaniments of Jonathan Still is a real asset. I noticed not long ago that Daniel Smith was also playing at London's Pizza on the Park as a jazz bassoonist! I now want to get along to hear this excellent musician live and am quite looking forward to his jazz. Smith must simply be Mr Bassoon with all the recordings he has made and his appeal with both popular and classical music. I have heard tracks from his recordings often on the station Classic FM in the UK and I can see why he is such a favourite. I am getting more than my money's worth from this CD, which I play regularly.

As an ardent fan of Daniel Smith's Vivaldi recordings I was most pleased to receive "Bravo Bassoon" for my birthday from a bassoonist friend who also appreciates his virtuosity. What fun to hear the rich, sonorous tones of Mr. Smith's in varied selections from strictly classical to opera to ragtime to the likes of Jerome Kern. Maybe Mr. Smith could bring us a strictly jazz bassoon recording...with his talents, that would be heavenly!

This record is simply beautiful. I love the way Daniel Smith plays this very difficult instrument with any kind of music. Bravo D. Smith

"Gone With the Wind" and "Stormy Weather" are reissues of "Live at the Jazzhaus" Vols. 1 & 2 (1965). Along with "The Jeep is Jumping" (also 1965) they constitute Webster"s best later work after having moved to Europe. The reissues have a better sound than the "...Jazzhaus" volumes. The program includes many of the standard ballads associated with Webster. There is never a dull performance. Webster, like Ellington, just kept getting better with age. Webster plays with one of the leading bands in Europe at the time, the Alex Riel Trio comprised of Kenny Drew on piano, Alex Riel on drums and the amazing Nils Henning Orsted Penderson on bass.

These Black Lion Ben Webster recordings are the best of his late career recordings when he moved to Europe. You will have a hard time finding any of his late recordings in better form with better sound and better atmosphere. Webster is really hopping and the rhythm section fits him perfectly.

In Webster's late career, he had a relatively small book of songs that he played over and over again. I have lots of his recordings. I am a fanatic collector of jazz recordings and I can tell you that if you got these three recordings reissued on the "1201 Music" labelwhich is distributed by Allegro Corporation, you would have a very enjoyable collection of Ben Webster.

What makes these recordings so special is that he is playing with a really delightful trio of musicians which play in a modern bop style which (to my ears) makes it more interesting and listenable than a 4-beat swing style rhythm section. The sound is great and the performance has lots of atmosphere. Get all three recordings (which are cheap--especially from Amazon Marketplace) before they are gone. Some appear to only be available from Amazon as used discs. They appear to be on their way out for now.