Born: December 19, 1951 Primary Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. Currently living in Portland, Oregon since 1990, Ed's work has taken him virtually everywhere in the world. He has worked with, toured internationally, or recorded with many legendary jazz figures, including: Dizzy Gillespie, Curtis Fuller, Terell Stafford, Claudio Roditi, Jeremy Pelt, Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson, Frank Morgan, Richie Cole, Pete Christlieb, Bud Shank, Charles McPherson, Hadley Caliman, Bobby Watson, Pete Jolly, Don Abney, Joe Albany, James Williams, Mike Wofford, Pete Malinverni, Bill Mays, Dick Berk, Larance Marable, Joey Baron, Chuck Redd, Carmen McRae, Bill Henderson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Anita O'Day, Ernistine Anderson, Marlena Shaw, Nancy King, Karrin Allyson, Mary Stallings, Dee Daniels, The Modernaires, Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabakin Big Band and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.
Ed was born in Los Angeles California on December 19, 1951 and began playing the string bass at the age of 12. He was a talented student of bassist Nat Gangursky, with whom he concentrated on technique and the classical repertoire. At 13, he was introduced to jazz music, and played in a Dixieland band that appeared on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in 1966.
A dedicated, working professional, Ed also majored in music, first attending Los Angeles Valley College. The following year, Ed was accepted to the Berklee School of Music in Boston in 1971. Ed made what he considers to be his first professional jazz engagement doing a week stint at the Jazz Workshop with Brazilian greats Victor Brasil and Claudio Rotiti, while a Berklee student. On his return home to Los Angeles he attended CSUN (Cal State University Northridge) in 1973.
In 1974, Ed toured with Jimmy Witherspoon. From 1976 to 1979 he backed Carmen McRae, making his recording debut on “Carmen McRae at the Great American Music Hall” in San Francisco which was was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1977. In 1981, he worked with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, recording the Grammy- nominated “Tanuki's Night Out.”
While living in Los Angeles, Ed Bennett recorded his first album as leader on Vision Records in 1987. A trio date with Kent Glenn on piano and Jack Ranelli on drums. In 1993 Ed started Saphu Records, an independent jazz record label. There are currently 19 releases in the Saphu catalog.
In Portland, Ed has been a member of the Mel Brown Quartet for the last 10 years. The MBQ performs every Wednesday at Jimmy Mak's. He also has been the bassist for the Tony Pacini Trio since 1999.
In a professional career spanning over 40 years, Ed has performed at major jazz clubs and events nationally and worldwide: Tel Aviv Opera House (Israel), Newport Jazz Festival (NY), Blues Alley (Wash. D.C.), Mt Hood Jazz Festival, Britt Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (Oregon), Jazz at Wolftrap (VA), Jazz Alley, Centrum Jazz Festival Port Townsend, Anacortes Jazz Festival (WA), Concord Jazz Festival, Laguna Beach Jazz Festival, Concerts by The Sea, The Light House (CA).
In the Portland area, Ed has worked with: Nancy King, Shirley Nanette, Rebecca Kilgore, Nancy Curtin, Marilyn Keller, Carolyn Joyce, Mia Nicholson, Toni Lincoln, Steve Christofferson, Richard Applegate, Gordon Lee, George Mitchell, Randy Porter, Darrell Grant, Jof Lee, Tony Pacini, Dave Frishberg, Mark Simon, Eddie Wied, Phil Goldberg, Peter Boe, Dan Gaynor, Brian Ward, BillBeach, Clay Giberson, Greg Goebel, Ramsey Embick, Ezra Weiss, Dan Balmer, Dan Faehnle, Christopher Woitach, John Stowell, Eli Reisman, John (JB) Butler, Matt Schiff, John Keyser, Eddie Parente, Patrick Lamb, Warren Rand, Dave Evans, Renato Caranto, Devin Phillips, Rob Scheps, Rob Davis, Hank Hirsh, Jeff Uusitalo, Stan Bock, John Moak, Paul Mazzio, Thara Memory, Farnell Newton, Bryant Allard, Derek Sims, Dick Titterington, Ron Steen, Mel Brown, William Thomas, Tim Rap, Charlie Doggett, Donny Osborne, Alan Jones, Todd Strait, Gary Hobbs, Mark DiFlorio, Akbar DePriest, Bobby Torres, Carlton Jackson.
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