Aaron Bennett

Aaron Bennett

Musicians | Instrument: Saxophone | Location: San Francisco

Bennett paints with delicacy and sometimes frenzy, and the gold of his saxophone is luminous and Buddha-natured.

—Sonoloco

Updated: April 24, 2023

Born: April 4, 1966

Aaron Bennett decided to dedicate his life to music at the age of 14 after hearing John Coltrane, hoping to one day give others the feeling he felt when hearing his music. This began a long journey that he continues on today.

After earning his BA in music with an emphasis on classical saxophone performance, he then earned an MFA a in Jazz performance where he studied with some of the greatest minds in Jazz including Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, Larry Koonse and Joe Labarbara. He has also studied musics from Bali, Java, Ghana, Japan and India.

Since graduating, he has had a busy career, making music with a wide variety of amazing musicians and bands from many genre's including jazz, afro-beat, pop/rock, funk and many others, including working with the following; Wadada Leo Smith, Mykal Rose, Peter Kowald, John Butcher, Weasel Walter, Adam Lane, Aphrodesia, Lagos-Roots, The Rova Saxophone Quartet, William Hooker, Lisa Mezzacappa and Vijay Anderson.

He has performed in clubs and festivals across the U.S. and abroad including recent appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Novarra Jazz Festival in Italy.


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121
Album Review

Aaron Bennett: Luggage

Read "Luggage" reviewed by AAJ Staff


With this recording of mostly solo soprano sax improvisations, Aaron Bennett invites the obvious comparisons with Steve Lacy. Both players possess a breathtaking command of the instrument, and both keep an ear open to freer sounds. Bennett, however, has a thicker sound and more of an open approach on Luggage. Where Lacy might doggedly pursue theme and variation, Bennett stretches the concept of variation to its furthest extreme. He explores vast alterations in tonal color; at the same time he ...

198
Album Review

Aaron Bennett: Luggage

Read "Luggage" reviewed by AAJ Staff


With this recording of mostly solo soprano sax improvisations, Aaron Bennett invites the obvious comparisons with Steve Lacy. Both players possess a breathtaking command of the instrument, and both keep an ear open to freer sounds. Bennett, however, has a thicker overall tone and uses more of an open approach on Luggage. Where Lacy might doggedly pursue theme and variation, Bennett stretches the concept of variation to its furthest extreme. He explores vast alterations in tonal color; at the same ...

145
Album Review

Aaron Bennett: Luggage

Read "Luggage" reviewed by AAJ Staff


With this recording of mostly solo soprano sax improvisations, Aaron Bennett invites the obvious comparisons to Steve Lacy. Both players possess a breathtaking command of the instrument, and both keep an ear open to freer sounds. Bennett, however, generally has a thicker tone and utilizes more of an open approach on Luggage. Where Lacy might doggedly pursue theme and variation, Bennett stretches the concept of variation to its furthest extreme. He explores vast alterations in tonal color; at the same ...

179
Album Review

Aaron Bennett: Luggage

Read "Luggage" reviewed by AAJ Staff


With this recording of mostly solo soprano sax improvisations, Aaron Bennett invites the obvious comparisons to Steve Lacy. Both players possess a breathtaking command of the instrument, and both keep an ear open to freer sounds. Bennett, however, generally has a thicker tone and utilizes more of an open approach on Luggage. Where Lacy might doggedly pursue theme and variation, Bennett stretches the concept of variation to its furthest extreme. He explores vast alterations in tonal color; at the same ...

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3

Recording

The Aaron Bennett Trio Release 'Plays for Lovers' on Soundarts

The Aaron Bennett Trio Release 'Plays for Lovers' on Soundarts

Source: adbsound

Recorded at Guerilla Studios in Oakland on May 5th, 2022, Plays for Lovers features the trio’s unique renditions of jazz classics by Monk, Porter, Van Heusen, Berlin and Rollins as well as two original compositions by the leader; Aaron Bennett. Lead by saxophonist Aaron Bennett, this recording harkens back to a day when every jazz musician had a unique voice all their own. The playing here is personal and passionate. The manner in which this album was recorded was in ...

6

Recording

Bay Area Meets Chicago For A New Quartet CD Release With Aaron Bennett, Darren Johnston, Lisa Mezzacappa And Frank Rosaly - "Shipwreck 4"

Bay Area Meets Chicago For A New Quartet CD Release With Aaron Bennett, Darren Johnston, Lisa Mezzacappa And Frank Rosaly - "Shipwreck 4"

Source: NoBusiness Records

Shipwreck 4 celebrates the first quartet meeting of jny: San Francisco Bay Area improvisers Darren Johnston, Aaron Bennett and Lisa Mezzacappa with jny: Chicago drummer Frank Rosaly. Johnston, a major figure in the Bay Area music scene, has nonetheless retained close ties to Chicago’s jazz community, and made the introductions here—the group assembled to play a set at a San Francisco Monday night music series, and decided right afterwards to book a recording session that weekend. Fueled by the combination ...

"The bravado of Aaron Bennetts tenor saxophone captures the grounded and robust spirit of our planet" --ArtForum

"Breathtaking command of the instrument" --All About Jazz

"Bennett paints with delicacy and sometimes frenzy, and the gold of his saxophone is luminous and Buddha-natured." --Sonoloco

"Bennett demonstrates his mastery of his instrument with great ease; he's a versatile player with an undeniable sense for jazz improvisation." --INcursion

"Aaron Bennett juxtaposes paradox and hostility in a confrontational style where romanticism is the last memory before dying." --Touching Extremems

Artists who share similar musical characteristics to Aaron Bennett.

Albert Ayler
saxophone, tenor
Sonny Rollins
saxophone
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto

Ms. Little's Blues

From: Plays for Lovers
By Aaron Bennett