Here’s a disc by a group that makes jazz tunes catchy again, they way they should be. Daniel Bennett, who has a sleek Desmondy sound on his alto, also hits the flute and clarinet with a light and rhythmic team of Mark Cocheo/g, Peter Brendler/b and Tyson Stubelek/dr on a collection of accessible and concise originals. Except for the cathartic “Cabin 12…” all of the tunes are joyful little ditties, with Bennett’s alto bouncing over clapping beats on “The Old Muskrat Welcomes Us” and “An Elephant Buys a New Car.” A floating flute adds a bit of color variety on the cheerful “Paint the Fence” and “Nine Piglets” and a warm clarinet waltzes through “John Lizard and Mr. Pug.” Cheerful, optimistic and without a shred of irony, this is the kind of stuff that got me attracted to jazz in the first place!
Manhattan Daylight Media Group