MP3 Jimmy Bennington - Jazz Kaleidoscope
A jazz kaleidoscope of sounds. evocative solo drums live in Seattle
8 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Free Jazz, FOLK: Modern Folk
Details:
J i m m y B e n n i n g t o n
James Bennington was born in Columbus, Ohio on
May 22, 1970. He was raised in Detroit,Michigan until the
age of nine when his family moved to Houston, Texas. It was
there that he began music studies on clarinet, playing the
instrument for three years. Switching to drums at age
fourteen, his education has come from private study,
Marching and Concert bands throughout Middle and High
School, work as a sideman and as a leader. A largely self-
taught musician, Jimmy''s early experiences include
countless jazz and blues sessions in Texas that afforded
him opportunities to play with several veterans. Highlights
include guitar greats Kinney Abair, Susan Alcorn, Steve
Radney, and Little Joe Washington, trumpeters Tex Allen and
Dennis Dotson, and renowned jazz vocalist Horace Grigsby.
It was also during this period that longtime Billy Harper
drummer Malcolm Pinson became a friend and mentor,
eventually using Jimmy as a substitute when he was away.
Other great artists Bennington has been priveledged to
learn from are Ron Enyard, Chuck Carter, G.T. Hogan, Roy
Haynes, Billy Mintz, and the legendary Elvin Jones. In
fact, in addition to eight years of study with the former
Coltrane drummer,he served as band manager and drum tech
from 2000-2002 for the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine touring the
U.S., England, and Switzerland.
Based in Chicago,IL, after an eight year residence
on the West Coast, Bennington performs at a number of
venues as a sideman or bandleader with his group, Colour
and Sound. Performing in the U.S. with regular visits to
Texas, the West Coast, Canada, New York, Europe, and South
America, he makes it a point to appear at public schools,
community centers, radio stations, and festivals.
Bennington also performs at hospitals as part of his long-
standing relationship with the Children''s Cancer
Association.
A distinctive sound has forged opportunities for the
drummer to work and record with a diverse array of artists
from the jazz and improvised music communities and beyond,
including legendary clarinetist Perry Robinson, pianists
Gordon Lee, Art Resnik, Doug Haning, Craig Hoyer, David
Haney, and Jim Baker, trombonists Andre` Hayward, Dave
Dove, Michael Vlatkovich, and Julian Priester, saxophonists
Bert Wilson, Graham Ord, Steve Griggs, Michael York, John
Gross, Phillip Greenlief, Rich Corpolongo, Paul Hartsaw,
and Texas collaborator Seth Paynter, guitarists John
Stowell, Bill Horist, Ava Mendosa, and Chicago artists Dave
Miller and Bill MacKay, bassists Eric Warren, Andre'' St.
James, Michael Bisio, Joscha Oetz, Paul Blaney, and
Chicago artists Mark Van Ziegler, and Hyoseb Kim. In
addition to working with bagpipes, Mariachi, poets, tap and
interpretive dancers, Jimmy has also performed with Rob
Scheps Salon Des Refuses big band and the highly acclaimed
L.A. cabaret singer Joanne Klein. Embracing the full
spectrum of the jazz artform, Bennington''s concept ranges
from the Great American Songbook to New Music, improvised
and otherwise.
In addition to an appearance on Black Entertainment
Television''s Jazz Discovery program in 1996, and a feature
in the soundtrack of Vincent O''Brien''s critically acclaimed
independent film ''Scrum'', the Seattle, Washington based
Origin record label added Bennington to their roster of
artists in 2003 with his recording ''Midnight Choir''. That
record earned a Recommended New Release from All About Jazz
New York. International attention has followed with more
appearances, airplay, and favorable reviews in several
publications including All About Jazz N.Y. and Cadence
Jazz, Blues,and Improvised Music Review. In 2005, Jimmy was
invited by the Leroy Vinneger Jazz Institute to take part
in the historic photo ''A Great Day in Portland'',
celebrating the long jazz history in Oregon which
Bennington was an active part of for six years (1999-2004).
Now based in Chicago, Bennington performs every Sunday
at Ennui Cafe (6789 N. Sheridan Rd., 8-10pm) with his group
Colour and Sound. He is also drum instructor at Flattes and
Sharpe Music Co. (N. Sheridan Rd./ Roger''s Park). Important
upcoming shows include an appearance at Chicago''s famed
Velvet Lounge with the Julian Priester Trio (Thur/Fri July
5/6, 9-Midnight), in Toronto, ON (May 25/27) with acclaimed
guitarist Ken Aldcroft, and with his own group at The Jazz
Zone in Lima, Peru (April 2008). Whatever the context,
Bennington''s intent is always one of integrity and honesty
of expression.
Available Recordings :
Contemplation, (1998)- A program of timeless jazz standards and original compositions, featuring Seth Paynter and Andre` Hayward with liner notes by Delfeayo Marsalis.
Midnight Choir,(2003)- Features Seth Paynter in trio and quartet settings. OA2 Records 22007
Jass Music, Live at the Tugboat, vol.I (2003)- Trio featuring Saxophonist Michael York
Springtime, Live at the Tugboat, vol II (2003)- Trio featuring saxophonist John Gross
No Goodbye''s, Live at the Tugboat, vol. III (2003)-Trio featuring trombonist Michael Vlatkovich
The Cocktail Hour, Live at the Tugboat, vol IV (2004)- Trio/Duo featuring David Haney and Doug Haning
Our Dialogue, Live at the Tugboat, vol.V (2004)- CD/DVD Piano and Drums Duet with David Haney. CD Baby
Another Friend; The Music Of Herbie Nichols (2005)-Features David Haney and Bassist Michael Bisio.
Jazz Kaleidocope; Live at On The House (2005)- Solo drums and original compositions recorded live in Seattle. CD Baby
Jimmy Bennington is also a freelance writer and has been published in Modern Drummer, Jazz Profile, and Cadence Jazz and Blues Review.
Bibliography:
One Final Note review by David Dupont, July 2005
James Bennington by Chris DeLaurenti, The Stranger, Seattle, WA, Feb 9, 2006
Meet Drummer Jimmy Bennington by Jack Gold, All About Jazz, April, 2005
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