December 31, 2010
Westover Church
Friday - 8:00pm
Tribute to Benny Goodman
Dave Bennett, clarinet
Goodman's timeless sounds and repertoire come to life once more under the talented direction of clarinetist Dave Bennett. You'll swing the evening away to favorites like Sing, Sing, Sing, I've Got Rhythm, Moonglow, Stompin' the Savoy and many more!
Bennett has the uncanny ability to recreate many of Goodman's famous riffs and lines, balanced by substantial amounts of "free blowing" improv. Former Goodman band member Peter Appleyard calls Bennett "the closest" to Goodman's style and sound of all the major clarinetists of the past forty years."
Carol McCartney, vocals 
"A tremendous additional treat for this concert was vocalist Carol McCartney. Now here is a voice for the future of jazz."
"Carol McCartney’s sultry vocals thrilled our audience." Edmonton Symphony
"One of the pleasant surprises....was the wonderful performance and tremendous reception given to vocalist Carol McCartney. Ms. McCartney has impressive credentials, a beautiful voice and attractive stage presence."
Distillery Jazz Festival
Co-sponsored by
About the Artist's
Michigan clarinetist Dave Bennett, is an authentic musical prodigy who brings to life the classic sound and music of BENNY GOODMAN with incredible technique, style, beauty of tone and naturalness.
Dave began playing at age 10 on a clarinet given to him by his grandparents. He then taught himself how to play Goodman songs by ear, listening to a tape given to him by his grandfather. At age 12 Dave was invited to the bandstand of the famous Sweet Basil jazz club in New York to sit in with the trumpet great Doc Cheatham.
As an early teen, a tape of Dave’s playing sent to another hero, Pete Fountain, resulted in an unprompted telephone call to Dave by Fountain, encouraging this remarkable young talent that he was "on the right track.”
Dave has traveled with The New Reformation Band and Wally’s Warehouse Waifs on the “trad jazz” festival circuit since the age of 14. He was selected as one of two high school students from a field of 600, to have the opportunity to perform as a special guest soloist with The Count Basie Orchestra.
Bennett premiered his Tribute to Benny Goodman septet in November 2003, at Windsor's Capitol Theatre. The concert resulted in Dave’s first feature CD of Goodman material, released on PKO Records.
Dave Bennett has created written and "head" arrangements of many Goodman "hits" and "swing jazz classics": Moonglow, I've Got Rhythm, Body and Soul, Slipped Disc, Sing Sing Sing, Airmail Special, Breakfast Feud, Poor Butterfly and many others. Bennett's mature stage presence, knowledge of the dates and details of Goodman recordings, and his penchant for wire-rim glasses, spats and double-breasted suits, transport listeners back to the time and mood of Benny Goodman's “swing era”. In his Goodman Tribute, Dave demonstrates an uncanny ability: "copping" many of Goodman's famous "riffs" and "lines" balanced by substantial amounts of "free blowing" that still evokes the Goodman sound and style.
Bennett has made a great impression on several of Benny Goodman’s famous band members: vibraphonist Peter Appleyard, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and pianist Dick Hyman. They all strongly endorse Dave Bennett as “the closest ever” to Goodman’ sound and style. He has performed with them in the US, Canada and Europe, and they have recorded as “Special Guests” on Dave’s two recent CDs.
Since 2005 Dave Bennett has toured with his Benny Goodman Tribute and performing with the orchestras of San Antonio, Grand Rapids, Tacoma, Columbus, Nashville, Omaha, Rochester, Harrisburg, Baltimore, Orlando, Windsor and Kingston ON. After his success with The Detroit Symphony at Meadowbrook, the DSO brought back Dave for five shows at Orchestra Hall in May 2008 to play for 10,000 fans over four days.
Dave was featured on NPR network radio programs The Jim Cullum Jazz Band on Jazz at Riverwalk. In April 2008 Dave made his European debut at The Bern International Jazz Festival , Switzerland headlining with the aforementioned Pizzarelli and Appleyard.
At age 24, Dave’s playing now reflects a mature personal style that evokes a fortuitous and unique blending of the sounds inspired by his two idols: Benny Goodman and Pete Fountain. In the hands of this young phenomenon, the clarinet just might have its next chance at popularity. Check out his website at: www.davebennett.com
Carol McCartney's impeccable vocals and finely tuned musicianship have made her a favorite among musicians and audiences alike.
Her current CD A Night in Tunisia showcases a star-studded band and
has received critical acclaim. Ted O'Reilly wrote “[Carol McCartney is]
sweet and swinging, warm, dramatic and rhythmically assured at all
tempos. The last word Carol sings is ‘Goodbye’, but I hope she soon says
‘Hello’ again.”
Carol can also be heard on Bob Brough's recording of original songs Like a Spring Day, released in 2005; featured vocals on trumpeter Chase Sanborn's CDs Sweet and Low and Cut to the Chase; and all vocals on the JUNO nominated recording Taking Flight with big band Freeflight.
Carol has played most of the jazz festivals in and around the Toronto area and all the major jazz clubs including regular sessions at the Rex Hotel with John MacLeod's 20-piece big band. She also performed with them at the TD Canada Trust Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival.
Last spring she performed as a soloist with the Sarasota Symphony and traveled to Japan to tour there with a Japanese jazz quartet.
National radio appearances include Ross Porter's After Hours and Katie Malloch's Jazz Beat; she was honoured to sing at Oscar Peterson's Tribute in Mississauga.
In 2007, Carol joined clarinet prodigy Dave Bennett and his septet on
a tour of shows both symphonic and small group. Recent symphonic
performances include the Toronto, Vancouver, Nashville, Detroit, Omaha,
San Antonio, Grand Rapids, Tacoma, Harrisburg, Orlando and Sarasota
Symphonies. You can read more about Carol on her website at: www.carolmccartney.com
The Band
Paul Keller (bass/orchestra arranger) was Diana Krall’s bassist 1995 through 1997, performing around the world with her quartet and recording on her Grammy nominated CD tribute to Nat King Cole. He has performed with such acclaimed artists as Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Oliver Jones, Mulgrew Miller, Jay McShann, James Moody, Barry Harris, Doc Cheatham and many others, appearing at America’s major jazz festivals and jazz clubs.
Peter Siers (drums) has been a touring member of the prominent Russell Malone Trio recording the album “Black Butterfly” on Columbia Records and has performed with Mose Allison, Frank Morgan, Mulgrew Miller, Lee Morgan, Vince Giordano and Franz Jackson among many others. Pete has played major jazz festivals including the JVC, Newport, Sunfest, Playboy Festival, The North Sea Jazz Fest in Holland, and the Istanbul Festival in Turkey.
Tad Weed (piano) spent eleven years touring the world as pianist for Paul Anka. Tad’s discography includes over a dozen CD’s, and he has performed with some of the great names in jazz including Anita O'Day, Mundell Lowe, Carmen McCrae, Charles Lloyd and Woody Herman. He has played concerts, clubs, television and radio around the world including Brazil ,China, Holland, England, France, Germany and Finland. Some noteworthy appearances include The Concord Jazz Festival, The Boston Globe Jazz Festival at Symphony Hall, The Kool Jazz Festival and The Berlin Radio Festival.
Carol McCartney (vocalist) is based in Toronto. In the past decade she has been featured in the big band led by internationally acclaimed vibraphonist Peter Appleyard and worked with such jazz greats as Slam Stewart, Mel Lewis and Bucky Pizzarelli. Carol has been featured on CBC Radio's national network jazz program After Hours, and was an opening act for comedian Bob Newhart. Carol joined Dave Bennett’s “Goodman combo” in 2006 and in 2009 had her own symphony pops feature with The Sarasota Orchestra. Her recent CD Night in Tunisia led to appearances in Japan.
Hugh Leal (rhythm guitar) has been active in promoting, recording and playing jazz in Windsor and Detroit for thirty-five years. To date Leal has produced thirty albums including features of such artists as Marcus Belgrave, Art Hodes, Franz Jackson, Bob Wilber, Johnny O’Neal, and J.C. Heard. Leal ran his independent Windsor Jazz Series from 1977 to 2000, including five Windsor Jazz Festivals, 1992 to 1996.
Greensboro Symphony POPS
