Clarinetist Dave Bennett has performed with music ranging from the Count Basie Orchestra as well as the Hot Club of Detroit; now he works as a solo artist tipping the hat to the sounds of Herman, Goodman and Shaw. On this latest release, he’s in a small group setting and emphasizes material from the Swing Era. Pianist Tad Weed gives a heavy boogie feel to “Woodchopper’s Ball” while the two deliver a serenading take of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” Bennett has a warm, almost classical tone, and with clarinet, you have to decide whether you emphasize sound or chops. While he does some remarkable improvising, particularly on a magnum opus reading of “Sing Sing Sing” the spotlight is on clarity than complexity. Clear and crystalline readings of “Begin the Beguine” and the title track have an elegance that is quite alluring. More glow than heat here, which is no complaint.
Mack Avenue Records