Jazz

Daniel Bennett Group: Bears, Ducks, Lizards and Saxophones!

Richard Gordon

Daniel BennettOn Aug. 2, saxophonist (and flutist, clarinetist, oboist, and piccoloist) Daniel Bennett joined Mandorichard and Bill Barnett for a wide-ranging interview about the Daniel Bennett Group’s music — and their upcoming appearance at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, at the Newark Free Library.

According to the group’s website, critics have been raving about the Daniel Bennett Group’s music: “The Boston Herald describes Bennett’s music as ‘exploratory Folk-Jazz hybrid.’ Timeout New York raves, ‘Daniel Bennett airs his lilting, potentially hypnotic compositions!” During the interview we listened to tracks from three of the group’s albums. The music is upbeat and engaging. What’s not to like about a track named “Paul Platypus”?

Bennett was gracious, funny, and very honest about how he approaches his music–Bill and Mandorichard found themselves laughing repeatedly as Bennett talked about playing for audiences, his wide-ranging early influences (Peter, Paul, and Mary; Bela Fleck; Ornette Coleman), and the number of animals featured in the titles of his compositions. He is very serious about his music, his musicianship on several members of the woodwind family, and his compositions; however, the resulting music is gleeful and exuberant because he and his group always try to engage their audiences. The group plays in clubs and at festivals, but his commitment to bringing jazz to lots of different kinds of people has led the group to play concerts in over 80 libraries across the United States.

If Aug. 12, 2016, hasn’t passed you by, you should definitely check out the Daniel Bennett Group at the Newark Free Library. And no matter when you are viewing this web page, you will find the podcast of of our interview with Daniel Bennett to be engaging, inspiring, and entertaining.

Listen to the Interview

Daniel Bennett. Hosts: Mandorichard and Bill Barnett, aired live on Aug. 2, 2016.
32:28
62.3 MB

The podcast is also available in a lower-fi version for ease of downloading.
31:18
30.0 MB

The Music

Artist Song Album Year
The Daniel Bennett Group The Legend of Bear Thompson The Legend of Bear Thompson 2008
The Daniel Bennett Group Paul Platypus The Mystery of Clown Castle 2015
The Daniel Bennett Group The Clown Chemist The Mystery of Clown Castle 2015
The Daniel Bennett Group John Lizard Comes Home Sinking Houseboat Confusion 2016

Aaron Tinkelman

bassamk

20160316_175904For this episode of The Music Room, Bassam Khatri sat down with student and local musician Aaron Tinkelman. The two spoke about Aaron’s transition to a solo act from playing in now-defunct jazz/funk band Salida del Soul. They also discuss experiences in China, some of his musical inspirations, and his plans moving forward.

IMG_6740

Aaron recreates a picture he took on his trip to China.

In addition to studying Psychology and Sociology at the University of Delaware, Aaron is an avid pianist, focusing on jazz, funk, and soul. In the studio, Aaron treats us to four songs which swing back and forth between jazz and soul, often within a few seconds. He uses space and improvisation to convey a sense of emotion which sends his audience on a journey to a place of his mind’s own creation. Aaron is currently composing and plans to record his music soon, so keep up with him to know when he releases new material. He will be playing at the I <3 UD event on the Green on May 11 at 12:05. It was a pleasure to sit down with Aaron Tinkelman in his first radio appearance, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Listen to the Interview

Aaron Tinkelman, Recorded Mar. 16, 2016, Aired Mar. 29, 2016. Host: Bassam Khatri
29:58
27.4MB

The Music

Aaron Tinkelman played four untitled songs live in our studio.

 

Mando Greats! The Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble

Kayla

Current-Line up for HMEKicking off the new year, Mandorichard spoke with fellow mandolin player Henry Koretzky, a member of The Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble. Koretzky and Mandorichard discussed the band’s origins, the history of the mandolin and the instruments that each member of the band plays. Their shared love of the various instruments in the mandolin family produces sounds closely related to bluegrass and jazz music.

In this interview, Koretzky sheds some light on the mandolin and its role in American orchestral history along with other facts about the band. Check it out below!

Photo courtesy of The Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble: (L-R) Greg Rohrer, Pete Netznik, Kevin Neidig (front), Henry Koretzky, Tom Cook

The Interview

Henry Koretzky of The Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble, Recorded live on WVUD, Jan. 5, 2016; Host: Mandorichard
33:22
32M

The Music

Artist Song Source Year
Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Something Snappy Recorded Live Oct. 4, 2015, at Delaware Nature Society’s Harvest Moon Festival  2015
Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Flatbush Waltz, Natasha’s Waltz Recorded Live Oct. 4, 2015, at Delaware Nature Society’s Harvest Moon Festival  2015
Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Waterbound Demo @ Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Website   2011
Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Moonflowers Demo @ Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble Website   2011