New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett will be known to Jazz Journal readers for his indefatigably positive approach to jazz, as evinced in Bruce Lindsay’s five-star review of his group’s We Are The Orchestra album. But he’s also noted for a positive approach to life in general and has been a prominent voice of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding multiple ways to keep his message flowing.
“This virus will die, but our cultural renaissance has just begun”, said Bennett in a recent interview with The Music And Myth in Europe. Bennett is also active on social media. “I broadcast all of my private teaching for the world to see. I also made a commitment to release one track on Spotify every week”, said the saxophonist. Bennett is on faculty at the Bloomingdale School of Music and the New York Jazz Academy. “This is our time to strengthen the core of our music community. When this virus fades away, we will have an unbreakable community”, said Bennett.
The Daniel Bennett Group is currently working on showcasing We Are The Orchestra. The band had just wrapped album-release concerts at the Blue Note (NYC) and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London) when the pandemic hit. “You make a hard pivot and begin fixing problems”, said the bandleader. The Daniel Bennett Group has been featured in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, NPR, San Francisco Examiner, Miami Herald and the Village Voice. The trio was recently voted Best New Jazz Group in Hot House Magazine.
In addition to leading his own band, Daniel Bennett performs in theatre productions in New York City. He recently played woodwinds in Blank! The Musical, the first improvised musical to launch on a national stage. 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. He’s active in many different music scenes – but his message of hope is universal. For more information on Daniel Bennett, check his website – danielbennett.net
This article was prepared with the assistance of the artist.
