Saxophonist Daniel Bennett....

"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." - VILLAGE VOICE

Critically acclaimed New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has recently shared concert concert billings with artists like Bill Frisell, Charlie Hunter, James Carter, Greg Osby, Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), and Steve Kuhn. 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.  

Daniel Bennett Group & Bill Frisell - August 16, 2008

While at NEC, Bennett studied saxophone with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, and Kenneth Radnofsky.  Daniel Bennett graduated from the conservatory in 2004 and began performing as a freelance musician with groups like the Portland Symphony, New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, Musaner, and the Duprees.  During this time, Bennett also began composing 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.  Bennett enlisted an all-star ensemble that featured guitarist Chris Hersch, bassist Jason Davis, and Rick Landwehr on drums.

Daniel Bennett Group & Charlie Hunter Trio- December 7, 2008

By 2007, the Daniel Bennett Group had reached thousands of listeners throughout the United States.  The bands 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 during a double bill performance with the Charlie Hunter Trio at the restored Cambridge YMCA Theatre.  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, Style Boston, and Sal's Show.  Daniel Bennett's quirky music has found a broad fan base that is unusual for most modern jazz outfits.  Insite Magazine called Daniel Bennett's music, "refreshingly capricious and trippy."  

Daniel Bennett Group & James Carter Trio - May 16, 2009

In the summer of 2010, Daniel Bennett moved to New York City where he enlisted a new cast of musicians that included guitarist Mark Cocheo, bassist Mark Lau, and drummer Brian Adler.  In the winter of 2011, the Daniel Bennett Group organized the popular "Jazz at the Triad" concert series.  The Daniel Bennett Group currently curates and performs in this ongoing concert series.  Supporting artists on the series have included Charlie Hunter, Steve Kuhn, and Greg Osby.  "Jazz at the Triad" has garnered critical acclaim from news outlets like the Village Voice and Timeout New York.


Daniel Bennett Group & Greg Osby Duo - June 25, 2011