Bennett Alliance Concert Series - Cambridge YMCA Theatre
Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood) Duo
Daniel Bennett Group
On December 7, Bennett Alliance welcomed various high school musicians around Boston to review the fourth installment of the Bennett Alliance Concert Series. Each installment of the Bennett Alliance Concert Series will feature cutting edge reviews from various young writers!
The Daniel Bennett Alliance show was a memorable experience for all who came to listen to their concert on December 7th. Their songs, some new and some old, were captivating and unique. Although I was a little confused by the speed and intensity of the solos, after listening closely it was clear how they intricately corresponded to the guitar and bass. Although substantial, these solos were not endless and boring, and the fluid stream of notes kept listeners happy and attentive. The variety of songs offered something interesting for each member of the audience - while some songs were spirited and lively, others were more reflective and relaxed. The Daniel Bennett Alliance was followed up by the talented percussion duo of Billy Martin and Calvin Weston, whose quirky performance was a great clincher to a wonderful evening of jazz.
Alana- Saxophonist (Belmont, MA)
The December 7th Concert hosted by Bennett Alliance was different from the others because it only had 2 bands, instead of 3. It obviously made it more manageable and didn't take anything away from the concert. The Daniel Bennett Group that performed first was the same that had played at the other concerts, consisted of a sax, a bass, and a guitar, with no drums. It was good and enjoyable as usual. Having heard the music before, it was easier to hear the melody and follow the changes, given that the music's melody and changes are pretty complex.
The lack of drums was contrasted by an all-drum duo, which experimented with meter and different world instruments. The main parts of the performance blended together different music styles and created a good vibe, while the duo occasionally both used the drum sets, playing off each others rhythms and introducing a more recognizable beat. The 2-band concert was a good combination of rhythm and melody. Overall, I think the it was a success, and there was also a great
bake sale.
Caleb- Saxophonist (Concord, MA)
The concert preformed by the Daniel Bennett group and Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood) drum duo on December 7th was fantastic. It showed an awe-inspiring mixture of jazz and rhythm that, though they differed in form, brought a delightful assortment of music into an equally pleasant performance. At the beginning of the concert, the Daniel Bennett group performed a collection of wonderful jazz songs. Each song included a smooth balance of bass and guitar, and also during the first half of the songs, a saxophone played, and for the remaining songs, a flute. Each instrument performed a part that would bring a beautiful and "jazzy" piece of music to life. In contrast, the two percussionists (Martin & Wood) both played wonderful and original improvisations on various percussion instruments. Every second of their performance was unique and distinct from the previous and following rhythms. All in all, both groups had an ability and talent for staging remarkable music that they showed profoundly.
Though the concert was marvelous, it's possible that it can become even better if changes are made. I thought that each song performed by the Daniel Bennett group seemed quite similar. I think that maybe more distinct songs would flow better and become even more outgoing toward the audience. Also, I believe that perhaps each instrument and player should get one or more solo(s). I think that this should be adjusted so that each song can become more unique and also, the audience will be able to experience the full potential of each instrument and player at their best. In conclusion, although a few alterations can be made, the concert was absolutely astounding and if improvements are made, the Daniel Bennett group will be even better than before.
Anonymous- Flutist (Concord, MA)
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