WORCESTER—Jazz saxophonist Daniel Bennett has spent much of his career writing original music. But his latest project turns that formula on its head—reimagining songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell, John Lennon and Horace Silver through the Daniel Bennett Group’s signature offbeat arrangements.
The trio brings that experiment to Worcester on Wednesday, March 25, with a CD release show at Mechanics Hall as part of the WICN Brown Bag concert series.
“Our listeners will enjoy a sonic journey,” Bennett told the Worcester Guardian. The bandleader grew up in Rochester, NY, and got hooked on jazz after his sister brought him to a high school band concert when he was just ten years old. Since then, Bennett has built a career as a touring musician and composer, and has often been referred to as “one of the most original and unpredictable musical voices of his generation.”
The Daniel Bennett Group also includes Koko Bermejo on drums and keyboard and Jeff Dingler playing bass. The band started touring 20 years ago, and “The Deconstructed Songbook” is its 11th album.
The trio will celebrate the album at the March 25 concert. Bennett describes the project as a “big departure” from their earlier releases.
“The album features our oddball arrangements of songs by Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Sam Rivers, Horace Silver and more,” said Bennet “We have a lot of surprises on this album. Critics know me as a composer. This is new territory for us.”
Despite being a saxophonist, Bennett writes all his songs first on guitar. He says the process helps him to hone in on his melodic hooks that ground the listeners. For him, “melody is king” and he is drawn to “repetition of phrases, gradual shifting of melodic shapes and slightly free-form improvisation.” His influences include Stevie Reich and Phillip Glass, but he has also long admired bands such as The Smiths, The Cure, and Depeche Mode. Through his childhood, Bennett played in the church, which has allowed him to see “no boundary line between musical genres.”
The concert is part of the WICN Brown Bag Concert Series, and is also be streamed on WICN 90.5FM. When asked whether performing for both a live audience and radio listeners at the same time affects the energy of the performance, Bennett replied, ”We perform on TV and radio regularly. It’s a unique challenge. We just focus on playing at our highest level. Hopefully that transmits over the airwaves.”
Bennett and his trio also speak highly of Mechanics Hall, praising it as an “amazing acoustic space for jazz and symphonic music.” He also noted the “different vibe” that daytime performances bring. According to Bennett, audiences can expect a performance with no barriers: “We always let our audience interpret the music freely.”
Bennett expressed excitement about collaborating with WICN 90.5FM on this concert. “It’s such a wonderful radio station. Jazz radio is so vital!”
The concert takes place at noon. on Wednesday, March 25, at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. Part of the WICN Brown Bag Concert Series, the performance is free and open to all ages, and audiences are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Bennett promises the performance will be “full of surprises.”
Caroline Lacy is an English student at Worcester State University, exploring journalism and storytelling, with a focus on culture and human-interest stories. She can be reached at clacy@worcester.edu.
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