Artist: The David Bennett Group
Title: We Are the Orchestra
Label: self produced
Genre: Avant-Pop with a blend of Jazz, Folk and Classical

Review by Dawoud Kringle

Daniel Bennett had an idea. Most large groups try to distill their effect into a smaller sound. Bennett (Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Piano, Percussion) wanted to take something small and expand it into something large. Enlisting the partnership of Mark Cocheo (Electric Guitar, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Nylon String Guitar), they layered the sounds of their instruments to create the effect and feel of an orchestra.

This concept, which became the CD / Digital release We Are the Orchestra, was conceived after Bennett arranged the musical score for “Whitman at the Whitney” at the Whitney Museum in New York City (produced by the Hudson Guild Theater). This project showcases Bennett’s compositions (which he terms “Avant-Pop;” a blend of Jazz, Folk and Classical) and arrangements of two opera themes by Giuseppe Verdi.

The opening track, “Loose Fitting Spare Tire,” immediately introduces the listener to a quirky sense of humor. The first few bars lead us toward a folk-ish Americana sound. But the startling and unexpected harmonies are well off the pop grid, but are engaging and very pleasing. Cocheo’s guitar solo makes no effort to hide his jazz roots. He is, in fact, proud of it (and should be). But then the music veers into an indefinable something that one wants to call country, but can’t. Bennett’s solo is more in keeping with the vibe of the song.

“Carl Finds His Way” takes this reckless playfulness into another direction within the confines of the concept behind this music. The harmonies are angular and slightly jarring in a way that, nonetheless, puts one at ease.

The whole collection is full of interesting surprises. “Gold Star Muffins” almost pretends to have a weird darkness to it, and then reveals bright colors once you’ve successfully focused in the shadows. “Inside Our Pizza Oven” is the love child between an Irish Jig, and a Spanish Flamenco who’d spent a night of passion in a North African brothel. The two Verdi pieces (“Theme from Erani” and “Theme from Il Trovatore”) are treated with a playful irreverence, and an adamant choice to treat the music as theirs and theirs alone.

The production and layered overdubs are very well executed. Rhythmically, the arrangements are like looking at a distant descendant of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, with Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli through an aged looking glass in an antique shop. Sometimes, it’s hard to equate the music with the titles; are Bennett and Cocheo sharing inside jokes we are not privy to? That said, Bennett’s composition style leaves no doubt that he thinks very much like a film composer. The music is very picturesque, and practically begs to be the narration of something happening on a screen or stage – and if there’s no imagery, the music will conjure it in your imagination. This is one of the greatest strengths of this music. Overall, there’s no way to define this music except by how it makes the listener feel; stylistic labels do little justice here.

Shows

Tue, Oct 23 – 7:30PM
Residence Inn Times Square
1033 6th Ave, NYC (3rd Floor)
“Experimental Tuesdays”

Sun, Oct 28 – 6PM
BLANK! The Musical
An improvised musical!
Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd St, NYC

Tue, Oct 30 – 7:30PM
Residence Inn Times Square
1033 6th Ave, NYC (3rd Floor)
“Experimental Tuesdays”

Tue, Nov 6 – 7:30PM
Residence Inn Times Square
1033 6th Ave, NYC (3rd Floor)
“Experimental Tuesdays”

Sat, Nov 10 – Tomi Jazz  
239 East 53rd St,  New York, NY
Daniel Bennett Group | 8pm

Sun, Nov 11 – 2PM
BLANK! The Musical
An improvised musical!
Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd St, NYC

Tue, Nov 13 – 7:30PM
Residence Inn Times Square
1033 6th Ave, NYC (3rd Floor)
“Experimental Tuesdays”

Nov 20 – BLANK! The Musical
Green Room 42 @ Yotel
570 10th Ave, NYC
An improvised Musical!
TICKETS – 7PM

Sat, Dec 1 – 2PM
BLANK! The Musical
An improvised musical!
Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd St, NYC

Sat, Dec 15 – 2PM
BLANK! The Musical
An improvised musical!
Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd St, NYC

Sat, Dec 22 – Tomi Jazz  
239 East 53rd St, NYC
Daniel Bennett Group | 8pm

Fri, Dec 28 – Paris Bistro Jazz
8235 Germantown Ave,
Philadelphia, PA
Daniel Bennett Group | 7PM