Daniel Smith, World's Most Recorded Bassoon Soloist, Dies at 77

Daniel Smith, who was one of the few bassoonists recording and performing in both Jazz and Classical music, described as the "Gerry Mulligan of The Bassoon", in the world of Jazz and the "Rampal of The Bassoon" in classical music, dies at 77 on December 19, 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. The cause of death was an aggressive infection that led to cardiac arrest. His daughter Jacqueline Smith confirmed his death.

Bronx-born Daniel Smith studied music at Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University and The Mannes College of Music. Joining the US Army, he was a member of the West Point Academy Big Band. During his early 20s, he played the saxophone with several Big Bands including The Cab Calloway Orchestra and others. As a teenager, Smith and his friends traveled from The Bronx to attend many jazz shows on New York's famed 52nd Street, in clubs such as Kelly's Stables, Leon & Eddie's, The Famous Door and Jimmy Ryan'st and others where he heard all the great performers such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and others.

Smith has recorded numerous discs, with repertoire ranging from Baroque concerti to contemporary music, including jazz with a quartet under his own leadership, ragtime, and crossover. Daniel Smith is the first bassoonist to have recorded all 37 Vivaldi bassoon concertos, in recordings made with the English Chamber Orchestra and I Solisti di Zagreb. Smith has also recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Caravaggio Ensemble.

Smith is also noted for his support of the creation of new concerti for his chosen instrument. He gave the United States West Coast premiere of Gunther Schuller's Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra. Daniel Smith has performed solo recitals at New York's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Recital Hall, Wigmore Hall, the BBC Concert Hall, and the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen.

His 3-CD box set of 37 Vivaldi Concerts was recently re-released by the label Deustch Gramophone/Decca in England and is a very sought out item in their catalog which features top performers of the classical genre.

A well-spoken jovial world traveler and lover of good conversation, Daniel Smith married Judith Shipman in 1961; she died in 2013. He is survived by son Robert Smith and daughter Jacqueline Smith and four grandchildren.

Among his latest projects, "Big Band Bassoon" a project he was currently working on with pianist/arranger Robert Boscher from Holland, an updated serving of his favorite Big Band numbers with his trademark bassoon solos and exquisite arrangements.

His latest release on the label Summit "Jazz Suite for Bassoon" won critical acclaim by music media. It features an original composition of the same name by British composer Steve Gray. A two-disc "The Best of" was in the works for the label Decca in U.K. A concert was planned for this spring in England with an orchestra.

In addition, Mr. Smith was working on an orchestral piece with the Brazilian composer João McDowell to be premiered in Brazil in the near future.

His memory and friendship is cherished by family, close friends, numerous jazz and classical musicians and sidemen as well as collaborators, and his music offerings will live forever. A Memorial concert to celebrate his life in music will be held in 2016.

For more about Daniel, visit www.danielsmithbassoon.com.

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