You get a two man Big Band here, with Daniel Bennett playing (take a deep breath) alto sax, tenor sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, piano and percussion with partner Mark Cocheo on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo and nylon string guitar. Slackers!
The music itself is a cheerful lot, filled with whimsical originals and a couple of famous pieces from Giuseppe Verdi. From “Trovatore,” you get a rich story with banjo and alto sax, whereas “Ernani” has some cheerful and chunky guitars to guide the alto along. Bennet’s flute does an easy stroll on “I’m Not Nancy” and his tenor is soft and dreamy on “Gold Star Mufflers.” Cocheo supplies some middle eastern moods for Bennett’s enchanting oboe during “Inside Our Pizza Oven” and the team gets playful for the clarinet on ”Carl Finds His Way.” The songs are childlike in their innocence and bright in colors, making this a rich and sublime bon mot.