Daniel Bennett Group

DIY saxophonist/flutist Daniel Bennett and his Bennett Alliance continue their concert series at the cozy Cambridge YMCA Theatre with jazz-guitar god Bill Frisell playing a rare solo set. The Daniel Bennett Group open, with the leader's unusual folk-minimalist approach and lighter-than-air sax (think Desmond and Giuffre) and flute spinning complex, floating lines over folk song forms. He's joined by acoustic guitarist Brant Grieshaber, bassist Jason Davis, and drummer Rick Landwehr. The Legend of Bear Thompson is just out on the Bennett Alliance record label. The Cambridge YMCA Theatre is located at 820 Mass Ave | 8pm | $25.

- Jon Garelick - Boston Phoenix

Saxophonist-flutist Daniel Bennett, acoustic guitarist Chris Hersch and bassist John Servo team up to deliver a spirited collection of acoustic driven... originals that soar with acoustic aplomb. At first glance, you may be misled by the cover art- a cartoon depicting three bears backed up by an army of said Ursus with the banner, "A Nation of Bears," flying above. But after listening, it's apparent that the nation of bears is a concept and not a children's song/storybook. Bennett explains in his liner notes that they discovered during the recording of the album, that all three musicians had an affinity for bears. The songs were recorded live during sub-zero conditions during the winter of '07, hence an association with bears was born as well as a recording of expanse vision and musicial richness. If you're searching for something fulfilling and out of the ordinary, I highly suggest that you check out the Daniel Bennett Group.

- Doug Sloan - Metronome Magazine