Daniel Bennett Group

The Boston Phoenix writes, "what we hear in Bennett's light, airy saxophone and flute lines...is the great Jimmy Giuffre Three of yore. Giuffre also had a thing for folk, and Bennett is adding his own British-folk/American-minimalism sensibility to the mix." Saxophonist Daniel Bennett has traveled the country, performing at venues like Lincoln Center, Merrill Auditorium, Eastman Theatre, George Eastman House, Jordan Hall, Hale Auditorium, Open Fest, Six Flags Darien Lake, and the Rochester Lilac Festival. The Daniel Bennett Group has shared concert stages with guitarist Charlie Hunter, percussionist Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin, & Wood), saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos), Denison Witmer, and LA-based synthpop group Joy Electric. Daniel Bennett has also performed as a freelance artist with the Portland Symphony, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, the Duprees, and the Socially Awkward Composers group. Daniel Bennett has performed for luminaries such as Colin Powell and actress Meryl Streep.Daniel Bennett completed his Masters degree at the New England Conservatory in 2004. In the winter of 2005, Bennett began collaborating with guitarist Chris Hersch. Six months later the Daniel Bennett Group added maverick bassist John Servo. The drummer-less trio forged a style that mixed folk, jazz, and 20th century minimalism. Rochester City News writes, "Bennett plays jazz... without the detours, wrong turns, and sour notes associated wth those who are constantly on the prowl for something new. His sax meanders and slithers, managing to inadvertently create gentle melodies while searching for the yet un-played and unheard. That, in essence, is the definition of jazz."In April of 2007, the Daniel Bennett Group released the epic full length album, A Nation of Bears on the Bennett Alliance label. The groundbreaking album was met with widespread critical acclaim. Metronome Magazine declared, A Nation of Bears is "a spirited collection of acoustic driven originals that soar with acoustic aplomb... A recording of expanse vision and musical richness." In January of 2008, a newly formed Daniel Bennett Group traveled to Rochester, New York to record The Legend of Bear Thompson, the group's second release in their trilogy of musical fables.