This is the 10th studio album from New York saxophonist and band leader, Daniel Bennett. The album was produced by Grammy-nominated producer MP Kuo and features some fine musical support from pianist Jason Yeager, electric bassist Kevin Hailey and percussionist Koko Bermejo.
A 2020 JJ article called Bennett “a prominent voice of hope” in the global jazz community. First impressions of the new album corroborate that description. The album is fresh, innovative and above all, original (perhaps, except for Holst’s Jupiter).
Turn Clockwise And Push is the opening track and features Bennett’s signature light saxophone tone. The melody is bright and played over rapid key modulations. There is a cinematic/soundtrack feel to the piece, as there is in other tracks on the album. Whilst different in very many ways, there is also a hint of Bob James in the playing of some of these pieces, especially Talk To Your Panda.
Bennett refuses to typecast his music, letting the audience come to their own decision. The Boston Globe described Bennett’s music as a “mix of jazz, folk and minimalism”. There is to my ear a noticeable absence of what UK audiences would recognise as folk music and Holst’s Jupiter is a strange choice but typifies Bennett’s desire not to be musically typecast. The track showcases Bennett’s excellent skills as a flautist, but still seems a bit out of context with the other tracks. Minimalism and free playing, however, come to the front in Three Studies On Emotion and Variations On A Floating Theme.
Overall, this a fine album, packed with fine musicianship and originality. A little bit quirky (as the album and track titles suggest) but nonetheless, entertaining and enjoyable.
Discography
Turn Clockwise And Push; The County Clerk; Talk To Your Panda; Bank Robbers; Variations On A Floating Theme; Jupiter From ‘The Planets’; Bending Bobby Brick; Three Studies On Emotion (30.00)
Bennett (as, f, cl, g); Jason Yeager (p); Kevin Hailey (b); Koko Bermejo (d). Big Orange Sheep Studio, New York City (No recording dates provided).
Manhattan Daylight Media 195269289089
