Daniel Smith is beating the odds by making the unyielding bassoon work in a jazz setting. He’s got incredible chops and is able to coax some dynamics out of the double reeder. His core team of Robert Bosscher/p, Michael O’Brien/b and Vincent Ector/dr is enlivened by some guest appearances. A burning take of “What’d I Say” includes some latin percussion by Neil Clarke, while “Senor Blues” has some extra mystery with Efrat Shapira’s violin. Greg Lewis brings his B3 to “C Jam Blues” and Frank Senior belts out the blues on “Hallelujah I Love Her So.” As for Smith and Company, they simmer on “Back at the Chicken Shack” and smolder on “Blue Seven.” This guy is becoming a force to be reckoned with!
Summit Records