Daniel Bennett Group - Peace and Stability Among Bears (2011)

Critically acclaimed New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has recently shared concert stages with national artists like Bill Frisell, Charlie Hunter, James Carter, Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), Jerry Bergonzi, and David Fiuczynski. The Boston Herald described Daniel Bennett's music as, "exploratory folk-jazz." Bennett's musical journey began as a graduate student at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. While at NEC, Bennett studied saxophone with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, and Ken Radnofsky. Daniel Bennett graduated from the conservatory in 2004 and began performing as a freelance musician with groups like the Portland Symphony, New Hampshire Festival Orchestra, Musaner, and the Duprees. During this time, Bennett also began to compose songs that featured folk melodies played on the saxophone in a jazz quartet format. Bennett's chord progressions also maintained a unique minimalist quality, influenced by composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass. The Boston Phoenix described Bennett's style as, 'an unusual folk-minimalist approach.' The music was innovative, yet remarkably accessible to a broad spectrum of listeners. By 2007, the Daniel Bennett Group had reached thousands of listeners throughout the northeast. The band's landmark debut album, A Nation of Bears, was met with critical acclaim. The Boston Globe described Bennett's music as "a mix of jazz, folk, and trance." The Daniel Bennett Group released The Legend of Bear Thompson in the spring of 2008. Metronome Magazine ranked the album in their top five picks of the month, declaring, 'the trio is so in sync with each other that it's downright mystical.' In 2009, the Daniel Bennett Group released Live at the Theatre, a groundbreaking album that was recorded live during a double bill performance with the Charlie Hunter Trio. The Daniel Bennett Group has been featured on popular radio programs like Harvard University's Jazz Spectrum (WHRB 95.3FM). The group has also made television appearances on Bandwidth TV, The Music Closet, and Style Boston. Daniel Bennett's quirky music has found a broad fan base that is unusual for a modern jazz outfit. Insite Magazine called Daniel Bennett's music, "refreshingly capricious and trippy."

Personnel:
Daniel Bennett: alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Chris Hersch: guitar; Jason Davis: bass; Rick Landwehr: drums.