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| Jimmy Bennington At The Velvet Lounge In Chicago Jimmy Bennington's Colour and Sound presents two different ensembles on Wednesday, November 21 and November 28, 9pm-12 midnight. The program features Bennington's arrangements, as well as standards, originals, and improvised compositions. For nearly twenty years, Jimmy Bennington has provided and developed an inimitable musical atmosphere that showcases his guests creative talents and places the drum in the role of timekeeper, colorist, and conductor. Always in keeping with the Jazz tradition, he employs strong elements of the Blues, Folk, Latin, and African music to explore, propel, cajole, and inspire both musicians and audiences alike. "Jazz music that treats the drum as an instrument equal to the piano, and experiments with the below the skin deep beauty that music has always had, but which few artists have been daring enough to delve into." (Ben Ohmart, The Muses Muse, 2004) James Bennington was born in Columbus, Ohio, May 22, 1970. He was raised in Detroit, Michigan until age 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, early experiences include countless Jazz and Blues sessions in Texas affording him many opportunities to play with local veterans. Notable artists include guitar greats Kinney Abair, Susan Alcorn, Steve Radney, Clayton Diaz, and Little Joe Washington, trumpeter Tex Allen, and renowned Jazz vocalist Horace Grigsby. It was 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 he has been privileged to learn from are Ron Enyard, Chuck Carter, G.T. Hogan, Bert Wilson, James Zitro, Billy Mintz, and the legendary Elvin Jones. In fact, in addition to eight years of informal study with the former Coltrane drummer, Bennington served as band manager and drum tech from 2000-2002 for the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine touring the U.S. and Europe. A distinctive sound has forged opportunities for the drummer to play 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, Ben Boye, and Jim Baker, trombonists Andre Hayward, Dave Dove, Michael Vlatkovich, Jeb Bishop, and Julian Priester, saxophonists Bert Wilson, Graham Ord, Michael York, John Gross, Phillip Greenlief, Rich Corpolongo, and Seth Paynter, flutists Bob Chadwick and Rob Piilonen, guitarists John Stowell, Tom McNalley, Bill Horist, Ava Mendoza, Mark Barth, Bill MacKay, and Jason Steele, bassists Andre St. James, Michael Bisio, Joscha Oetz, Paul Blaney, Jeff Johnson, Dan Thatcher, Jack Zara, and Mathew Golombisky. He has also worked with bagpipes, Mariachi musicians, poets, tap and interpretive dancers, and has performed with Rob Scheps Salon Des Refuses Big Band and with vocalists Stephanie Porter, Joanne Klein, and Kuki Boatwright. Currently based in Chicago, after long residences in Texas (1990-1998) and the West Coast (1998-2006), Bennington performs at a number of venues as a sideman or band leader with his group, Colour and Sound. Performing in the U.S. with regular visits to Canada, New York, Europe, and South America, and makes it a point to appear at public schools, community centers, radio stations, festivals, and hospitals as part of a longstanding relationship with the Children's Cancer Association. Bennington is also an experienced instructor who teaches privately and in conjunction with Flatts and Sharpe Music Co. in Roger's Park. He is also a freelance writer and has been published in Modern Drummer Magazine, Jazz Profile, and Cadence Jazz and Blues Review. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |