Dave Bennett - Don't Be That Way

Styles: Clarinet Jazz 
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:40
Size: 153,4 MB
Art: Front

( 3:06)  1. Slipped Disc
( 4:10)  2. Begin The Beguine
( 5:29)  3. Don't Be That Way
( 3:46)  4. Running Wild
( 9:16)  5. St. James Infirmary
( 6:12)  6. Yetserday
(11:17)  7. Sing, Sing, Sing
( 5:33)  8. Woodchopper's Ball
( 4:51)  9. My Inspiration
( 6:29) 10. Goodbye
( 2:16) 11. A Funeral In New Orleans
( 4:09) 12. When The Saints Go Marching In

Clarinetist Dave Bennett's Don't Be That Way is a throwback album, but it's not a carbon copy of what's come before. Bennett certainly finds inspiration in the work of past masters, driving down the highways and byways that have been paved by Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and others, but he's willing to look at their music with a fresh set of eyes; he's a centrist, but not a complete traditionalist. He'll occasionally throw a curve ball on a well-known tune, as demonstrated on the Brazilian-coated title track, but the ball always goes back over the plate in the end, locking in to some form of widely established and accepted practice. Goodman, more than any other figure, is the influence that hovers over this date. Bennett delights in interpreting several key pieces from Goodman's repertoire, from the immortal "Sing, Sing, Sing" to the bleak-and-beautiful "Goodbye" to the fun-filled "Slipped Disc," and he even resembles the King Of Swing, with a serious bespectacled face and firmly parted hair. The similarities stop there though, as Bennett's tone and timbre bear little resemblance to Goodman's clarion call clarinet sound. Bennett has a more soothing-and-streamlined sound not the same as, but in the realm of Ken Peplowski and Eddie Daniels and it charms the ear throughout.  While it would be a lie to say that the album is filled with surprises, a few pop up along the way; the inclusion of a Beatles classic ("Yesterday") amidst the older fare is one and the clarinet supplanting the drums on the "Sing, Sing, Sing" solo break is another. Elsewhere, things are often predictable but pleasing. A rollicking "Woodchopper's Ball" makes for a good time, as does the oft-covered, album-ending "When The Saints Go Marching In." The only misstep here is "Saint James Infirmary." Bennett's vocals don't measure up and the song feels a tad stiff, but that's simply the Achilles heel on an otherwise healthy-and-strong body of material.  Bennett is the undisputed star of his own show, but his band mates deserve a bit of praise for their work; they're attuned to his attitudes about this music and they do an excellent job in helping him shape these performances. Guitarist Reg Schwager proves to be a great front line partner, moving in tandem with Bennett on some fast-and-tricky passages, and bassist Paul Keller and drummer Pete Siers are sensitive to all of the nuances that live within this music. Pianist Tad Weed, more than any side man here, establishes himself as a player to watch and a force to be reckoned with. The depth and breadth of his work is astounding and Bennett's clarinet playing rests on his pianistic shoulders. The sixth man arranger Shelly Berger also deserves a nod, as his pen defines the overall shape of this music. Together, this crew makes wonderful music that recalls the past but lives in the present. ~ Dan Bilaswsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dont-be-that-way-dave-bennett-mack-avenue-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Dave Bennett: clarinet, vocals; Tad Weed: piano; Paul Keller: bass; Pete Siers: drums; Reg Schwager: acoustic guitar, electric guitar; Shelly Berger: arrangements.

Don't Be That Way

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Dave Bennett - Blood Moon

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 117,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Blood Moon
(5:37)  2. A Long Goodbye
(4:38)  3. Falling Sky
(5:01)  4. Hallelujah
(5:46)  5. Wichita Lineman
(3:55)  6. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
(3:17)  7. 13 Fingers
(5:27)  8. Down In Honky Tonk Town
(4:24)  9. The Good The Bad And The Ugly
(4:17) 10. In My Life
(3:38) 11. Heavy Heart

Clarinetist Dave Bennett’s Mack Avenue debut, 2013’s Don’t Be That Way, showcased an artist capably tackling and updating music associated with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Pete Fountain. In essence, it positioned him as a next-gen swing king with a penchant for taking playful strolls. This follow-up, while retaining that image and ideal in select places, is something of a toned-down story. Five of the album’s 11 tracks are Bennett originals, written collaboratively with pianist Shelly Berger, and most present with muted lyricism. Half of the covers that make up the balance fall in line with those gentle numbers, furthering the aesthetic of the ruminating artist. The introductory triptych “Blood Moon,” “A Long Goodbye” and “Falling Sky” typifies Bennett’s newfound wistfulness, as do the appropriately sedate takes on Leonard Cohen’s  “Hallelujah” and Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” that immediately follow. It’s not until the midpoint a swing and bop-friendly ride through “(Back Home Again In) Indiana” that the Bennett of old comes out to play. From that point on he diversifies his portfolio. The Goodman-esque “13 Fingers” and the swampy “Down in Honky Tonk Town” provide a much-needed double-shot of excitement while easily differentiating themselves; a polished take on “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” buffs out the rough edges in Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti-western sound; and a relatively direct “In My Life” honors the truth and sincerity endemic to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. Then the album arrives at its end by coming full circle with “Heavy Heart,” a mournful beauty emphasizing Bennett’s purity of tone and spirit. Blood Moon doesn’t blot out the light that previously emanated from Bennett, but it certainly invites darker shadows and deeper shades of thought into the frame with him. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/dave-bennett-blood-moon/

Blood Moon

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Dave Bennett - Celebrates 100 Years Of Benny

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:25
Size: 142.9 MB
Styles: Clarinet jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[ 8:11] 1. Benny's Bugle
[ 4:17] 2. In A Sentimental Mood
[ 4:20] 3. If I Had You
[ 2:23] 4. My Funny Valentine
[ 4:14] 5. That's A Plenty
[ 4:47] 6. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 4:11] 7. Moonlight In Vermont
[12:05] 8. I Got Rhythm
[ 4:52] 9. Poor Butterfly
[13:01] 10. Sing, Sing, Sing

Dave Bennett's debut as a leader celebrates the centennial of the birth of Benny Goodman, who left an extensive record legacy during his long career. The danger in doing such a tribute is overtly copying Goodman's style, which Bennett manages to avoid. He also helps himself by utilizing a variety of groups: a trio with veteran pianist Dick Hyman (a former Goodman sideman) and drummer Ed Metz, Jr., a pianoless trio with Bucky Pizzarelli (another Goodman sideman) and bassist Jerry Bruno, along with live tracks featuring a sextet with (vibraphonist Jim Cooper, guitarist Hugh Leal, bassist Paul Keller, drummer Pete Siers, and pianist Bill Meyers) and one quartet track omitting Keller and Leal. Bennett has plenty of chops on his instrument but doesn't hog the program (like Goodman sometimes did), generously featuring his sidemen. The trio tracks stand out, especially the rousing "Sing, Sing, Sing!" with Hyman and Metz and the lush treatment of "In a Sentimental Mood" with Pizzarelli (a consummate, lyrical accompanist) and Bruno. The sextet performance of "Stompin' at the Savoy" is also a crowd pleaser. Expect to hear more from Dave Bennett. ~Ken Dryden

Celebrates 100 Years Of Benny

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Dave Bennett - Clarinet Is King: Songs Of Great Clarinetists

Size: 134,3 MB
Time: 57:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Begin The Beguine (3:33)
02. Stranger On The Shore (4:42)
03. Dizzy Spells (3:29)
04. St. James Infirmary (7:04)
05. You Are My Sunshine (8:42)
06. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (3:09)
07. Wire Brush Stomp (2:15)
08. Where Or When (2:49)
09. China Boy (5:15)
10. Mood Indigo (4:51)
11. Oh, Lady Be Good! (6:42)
12. Nightmare (4:58)

On this recent CD, Dave Bennett, the young Goodman-inspired, self-taught, clarinetist from Michigan, features a few tunes from the clarinet greats of previous eras: Artie Shaw ('Begin the Beguine'), Benny Goodman ('Dizzy Spells'), Pete Fountain ('You Are My Sunshine'), Barney Bigard ('Mood Indigo'), and others. Bennett's versions are skillful, colorful, and convincing. His technique is second to none. His support personnel; Tad Weeds (piano), Paul Keller (Bass) and Peter Siers (Druns), are highly experienced, striking the right balance bewteen lead-to-sidemen solos and ensemble backup. Taken togther, the full CD is a very worthy addition to the list of very talented small-group clarinetists playing mainstream jazz. However, I have two suggestion on how this CD could have received my highest rating: a) the inclusion of more dramatic tunes from the great American swing library and, b) improvisations played with more dynamic and forcefull expression. My favorite is Bennett's engrossing version of 'Mood Indigo;' one of the best improvised versions I've heard from any clarintetist. This CD also has a few interesting features to note: a clarinet/drum duet on 'You Are My Sunshine,' the use of a bowed bass on 'Lady Be Good,' a horror movie effect on an obscure Artie Shaw tune ('Nightmare'), and a clarinet/drum duet on a tune that Gene Krupa and Goodman should have recorded ('Wire Brush Stomp'). ~By J.D. Traiger

Clarinet Is King

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