Voted BEST NEW JAZZ GROUP New York City Hot House Magazine
"Jazz, Folk & Minimalism" Boston Globe
"Hypnotic!" Timeout New York
Manhattan-based saxophonist Daniel Bennett can be heard throughout the world performing his award-winning compositions on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and oboe. The Daniel Bennett Group plays quirky modern Jazz, fused with elements of Surf Rock and Avant-Pop. The Boston Globe describes Bennett's music as "a mix of jazz, folk, and minimalism." The band was recently voted "Best New Jazz Group" in New York City Hot House Magazine. Daniel Bennett Group is currently touring to promote their newest album, 'Sinking Houseboat Confusion' (Manhattan Daylight Media). On the new album, Bennett is joined by Nat Janoff (guitar), Eddie Khaimovich (bass), and Matthew Feick (Drums). The album was produced by MP Kuo at Eastside Sound Recording in Manhattan. The Daniel Bennett Group has been featured in Boston Globe Magazine, NPR, First Coast Living (NBC), Indianapolis Public Radio, San Francisco Examiner, St. Louis Public Radio and the Village Voice. The Village Voice raves, "saxophonist Daniel Bennett makes hay with an airy approach that's buoyant enough to conjure notions of East African guitar riffs and Steve Reich's pastoral repetition."
Time Out New York describes the music as, "hypnotic." Daniel Bennett studied saxophone at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston. During his time in Boston, Bennett performed regularly with the Portland Symphony and the New Hampshire Festival Orchestra. Bennett also toured Italy and Switzerland with renowned Boston jazz ensemble, Musaner. In addition to leading his own band, Daniel Bennett performs in Broadway and Off-Broadway theater productions in New York City. Daniel Bennett recently composed the musical score for stage adaptations of 'Frankenstein' and 'Brave Smiles' at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Manhattan. Daniel Bennett recently played woodwinds in 'Blank! The Musical,' the first fully improvised Off-Broadway musical to launch on a national stage. The show was produced by Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Improv Boston. The New York Times called the show, "Witty, Likable and Ludicrous!" Daniel Bennett's theatrical works have strongly influenced his eclectic sound and musical storytelling abilities as a bandleader. Daniel Bennett is an official endorsing artist for Morgan Mouthpieces. Visit www.danielbennettgroup.com to learn more.
They describe their music as, ‘quirky, modern jazz fused with elements of surf rock and avante-pop’. The group have been playing more or less constantly for over a decade and are stalwarts of public libraries as well as jazz clubs and festivals. They recently completed 10 packed US tours. Their first 6 albums increased the group’s popularity and were critically acclaimed. Critics and reviewers have realized the magic of their music and the last album ‘The Mystery At Clown Castle’ was positively reviewed in Time Out, The New York Times, Jazz Weekly, All About Jazz and many other publications and proved Daniel has matured and gained huge respect for his original music. The group have appeared on TV and radio to share their take on music with a wide audience. Daniel has composed music for theatre and played woodwinds in ‘Blank! The Musical”’ which was the first fully improvised off-Broadway musical to launch on a national stage. With no conductor or sheet music the music was created spontaneously to accompany the cast and the New York Times called the show ‘Witty, Likeable and ludicrous’. The new album has been in the pipeline for some time and was anticipated with high expectations.
Jazz In Europe got an exclusive preview. In his email to me, Daniel said, “This music will shock some and hopefully delight ALL! The Daniel Bennett Group performed 10 national tours in the last year. Throughout this time, we have carefully crafted this radical new sound Surf Rock + Avant-Pop + Modern Jazz.”
When there is high expectations some trepidation comes with playing the music for the first time so I braced myself. I have to say from the start, this is not the Daniel Bennett I was expecting. Past music has been more than listenable, jazzy, theatrical and very pleasant but this – this shows a maturing and confidence in their own identity which is palpable from the first note. The first listen was fine, the second good and the third I was hooked. I recognised Daniel’s style from the start but it was the quantum leap in that style along with a massive increase in confidence which assailed me. The CD opens, as all CDs must, with a familiar sound – it could almost have been lifted from one of their previous albums. However, ‘John Lizard Comes Home’ quickly diverges into something else – a rockier, faster-paced sound with some pretty neat guitar from Nat Janoff, underpinned by thrumming bass from Eddy Khaimovich whilst Daniel soars over the top, changing into minor key and back again part way through.
This is confident, joyful music and tight? Boy is it tight. ‘Andrew Variations’ follows and again, this is led by Daniel’s clarinet which establishes the lovely melody. Which is played – in various forms again and again but never becomes tiresome. Daniel shows he knows how to work a theme and it breaks at just the right place for a complete change in texture and feel before re-establishing the theme in this far too short, delightful track.
‘Bobby Brick Sent Me’ starts with a funky, driving beat over which Daniel absolutely rocks on sax. There is a lovely, open feel to this track and Daniel is supported by light but effective drums and guitar. Daniel’s confident playing carries this track and he has reached that stage where a natural player crosses from being very good to intuitive and heading towards greatness. His playing is superb. The title track, ‘Sinking Houseboat Confusion’ is rocky, classy and cosily familiar in format. The composition is full of depth and warmth, each musician used fully, echoing the theme set by Daniel. A rollicking drum solo from Matthew Feick cuts a decent break at the 1.30 mark before the theme returns. ‘Paint The Fence’ ushers in a change of mood with twangy guitar paving the way for Daniel’s flute which creates an atmospheric number lifting the listener up, away and then gently putting them down again, changed somehow yet perfectly replete with sound. There are some lovely off-beat moments in the rhythm but not enough to interfere with the mood. ‘Dr Duck Builds a Patio’ is jazzy, funky and the sax sounds, at times truly like a duck concentrating on his task of building. Daniel’s playing shows true confidence here, raspy, fast and offset by a great guitar solo. ‘We Are Okay’ is more rocky to begin with before a bluesey, racey theme is introduced and the jazz roots comes through with three rhythms all going on simultaneously, imparting to the number a sense of organised chaos. It develops each theme, each rhythm, all separate yet skilfully linked to create a cohesive number with a touch of free jazz mixed in. Gorgeous. The fact this works with the complex depths confirms the dexterity and understanding the musicians have and their more than nodding respect and understanding for true jazz composition in music.
‘Little Disappointments of Modern Life’ starts with an inspired bit of sax from Daniel, showing off his impressive licks. Then the poem by Michele Herman after which the track is named is read with Daniel accompanying the narrative with intuitive playing holding up and emphasising the emotion of the poem’s story. An unusual and surprising track but the theatrical nature works well and the music entwines with the words to create something more than a bit magical. As the voice stops, Daniel continues on sax, telling his own version of the story and the silence at the end is all-encompassing.
With ‘Animals Discussing Life Changes’ the music returns to the familiar Bennett format, with the lead instrument, a clarinet in this case, working up the theme adequately supported by the rest of the musicians. This is a good filler number and has a dancy, prancy feel about it. Sinking Houseboat Confusion’ (acoustic reprieve) has the addition of Mark Cocheo on acoustic guitar and while the original theme is there, it is treated so gently and slowed that it is hard to equate this track to the first version. It is, however, beautiful and arranged really cleverly.
There is about this CD a quality and a confidence which is a mile higher than anything I have heard the Daniel Bennett Group play before – and it was good before. It is clear Daniel is forging his way relentlessly towards that place in music where he feels most comfortable and, luckily for the listener, it is a place where the music is intensely listenable. Yet, there is still a sense of a door opening, not quite fully open – which bodes immensely well for the future.
There are references to almost every genre so classifying the music is impossible – even the group call it avant-pop-modern jazz- surf rock and it is all of those things. However, I can tell you what it is and that is good music – listenable, recorded well and you get the sense of the endless work which has gone into this, the re-writes, the rehearsing, the tweaks and the respect for the listener because in the end, they got it just about right. Now if we can only get Daniel over his fascination with animals…Daniel said he would shock me – he did but in a good way. He also said the music will hopefully delight all – it will, (well unless you are brain-dead). This is seminal, not in the sense of music as a great whole but in the sense of this band – this is a gear change, a step up and delivered brilliantly.
DANIEL BENNETT GROUP
SINKING HOUSEBOAT CONFUSION
(Manhattan Daylight Media)
All songs written by Daniel Bennett (BMI) | Copyright 2016
Original poem, Little Disappointments of Modern Life, written by Michele Herman
Producer: MP Kuo | Executive Producer: Daniel Bennett
Recorded at Eastside Sound (150 Forsyth St, New York, New York)
Mixing and Mastering at MP Kuo Recording (New York, New York)
Photography: James Bartolozzi and Beatriz Ota
1.) John Lizard Comes Home
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
2.) Andrew Variations
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone/Flute
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
3.) Bobby Brick Sent Me
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Matthew Feick - Drums
4.) Sinking Houseboat Confusion
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone/Flute
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
5.) Paint the Fence
Daniel Bennett - Flute
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
6.) Doctor Duck Builds a Patio
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
7.) We Are OK!
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone/Piano
Eddy Khaimovich - Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
8.) Little Disappointments of Modern Life (original poem by Michele Herman)
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Michele Herman - Spoken Word
9.) Animals Discussing Life Changes
Daniel Bennett - Clarinet
Eddy Khaimovich – Electric Bass
Matthew Feick - Drums
Nat Janoff - Guitar
10.) Sinking Houseboat Confusion - Acoustic Reprise
Daniel Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Mark Cocheo - Guitar
Personnel:
Daniel Bennett- Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano
Nat Janoff: Electric Guitar
Eddy Khaimovich: Electric Bass
Matthew Feick: Drums
To be released on Manhattan Daylight Media
BUY THIS ALBUM
June 9 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
June 11 - Tomi Jazz
239 East 53rd St, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
8pm
June 16 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
June 23 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
June 30 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
July 7 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
July 14 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
July 19 - Indianapolis Library Concert Series
40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN
Daniel Bennett Group
July 20 - James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy
422 Foreland St, Pittsburgh, PA
Daniel Bennett Group
July 21 - Slifer Museum Concert Series
3201 River Rd, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Daniel Bennett Group
7pm
July 22 - Easttown Library Concert Series
720 First Ave, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Daniel Bennett Group
7pm
July 23 - Tomi Jazz
239 East 53rd St, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
8pm
July 28 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
August 4 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
August 8 - Philadelphia City Institute
1905 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA
Daniel Bennett Group
6:30pm
August 12 - Newark Free Library Concert Series
750 Library Ave, Newark, Delaware
Daniel Bennett Group
7pm
August 13 - Tomi Jazz
239 East 53rd St, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
8pm
August 19 - How Art Thou Jazz Lounge
1956 Maybank Highway, Charleston, South Carolina
Daniel Bennett Group
8pm
August 20 - Moncks Corner Library Music Series
10003 US-52, Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Daniel Bennett Group
August 21 - The Velvet Note
4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia
Daniel Bennett Group
7pm
August 22 - Colleton Library Music Series
600 Hampton St, Walterboro, South Carolina
Daniel Bennett Group
August 23 - Decatur Library Music Series
215 Sycamore St, Decatur, Georgia
Daniel Bennett Group
August 24 - Red Light Cafe
553 Amsterdam Ave, Atlanta, Georgia
Daniel Bennett Group
August 25 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
September 1 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
September 8 - Residence Inn Times Square
Bryant Park Lounge (3rd Floor)
1033 Sixth Ave, New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group
7:30pm
September 21 - Roberts Wesleyan College
2301 Westside Dr, Rochester, New York
Daniel Bennett Group
