Ed Bennett

Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. 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, Harry Allen, Pete Jolly, Don Abney, Joe Albany, Dave Frishberg, James Williams, Mike Wofford, Pete Malinverni, Bill Mays, Dick Berk, Lawrence Marable, Frank Butler, Gene Stone, Joey Baron, Chuck Redd, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Witherspoon, Anita O'Day, Nancy King, Ernistine Anderson, Marlena Shaw, Karrin Allyson, Mary Stallings, Dee Daniels, Bill Henderson, 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 in Junior High School. He was a talented student of bassist Nat Gangursky, with whom he concentrated on technique (Simandl Method) 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. Between 1976 and 1979 he backed Carmen McRae, making his recording debut on "Carmen McRae at the Great American Music Hall" in San Francisco which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1977. In 1981, he worked with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, recording the double Grammy nominated "Tanuki's Night Out" (released in Japan as "From Toshiko With Love")

Ed Bennett recorded his first album as leader in 1987. A trio date with Kent Glenn (piano) and Jack Ranelli (drums). In 1993 Ed started Saphu Records, an independent jazz record label featuring select West coast jazz musicians performing original compositions and time honored jazz standards. There are currently 23 releases in the Saphu catalog.

Ed Bennett: Tourology

Read "Tourology" reviewed by Todd S. Jenkins

by Todd S. Jenkins
January 1, 2001

Ed Bennett’s quintet is a superior group from Portland, Oregon, which has become a hotbed of jazz activity. The bassist boasts an admirable resume including stints with Carmen McRae, Joe Henderson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sonny Stitt, the Akiyoshi-Tabackin Big Band, and a number of West Coast stalwarts.Tourologyis his fourth album on his own label, Saphu. While the disc’s back cover emulates the appearance of classic Blue Note LPs, the music within is skewed solidly toward West Coast coolness.

The unusual alto-trombone ...

Performance / Tour

Tony Bennett's Daughter, Antonia Bennett, Elevates Jazz Angels' 'One Night Only'

Source: RickGomesPR
April 27, 2024

Antonia Bennett, the acclaimed jazz singer and daughter of legendary jazz icon Tony Bennett, is partnering with Jazz Angels for “One Night Only," a concert to help raise funds and awareness on behalf of Jazz Angels non-profit youth organization. This exclusive event will take place on Saturday, May 25, at the Salvation Army Red Shield Theatre from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bennett, known for her captivating performances and rich musical heritage, will grace the stage alongside select Jazz Angels ...
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Performance / Tour

Songstress Antonia Bennett, Daughter Of Jazz Icon Tony Bennett, Launches Solo Career At Dizzy's Club On November 30, 2023

Source: RickGomesPR
October 7, 2023

Antonia Bennett, the acclaimed jazz singer and daughter of legendary jazz icon Tony Bennett, launches her solo career at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Thursday, November 30, with two performances at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This one-night-only engagement promises an unforgettable journey through the Great American Songbook, along with Bennett’s own original compositions. With her warm and captivating voice, Bennett will bring to life timeless classics from the Great American Songbook, evoking the spirit of Ella ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Tony Bennett

Source: Michael Ricci
August 3, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Tony Bennett's birthday today!

No one else in popular American music has recorded for so long and at such a high level of excellence as Tony Bennett. In the last ten years alone he has sold ten million records. The essence of his longevity and high artistic achievement was imbued in him in his loving childhood home in the Astoria section of Queens where he was born on August 3, 1926. His father died when ...
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Video / DVD

Tony Bennett Sings for Madison Ave.

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 28, 2023

Like many vocal stars eager to supplement their income and remain visible, Tony Bennett did his fair share of TV and print ads for a wide range of products. Here are a bunch of TV commercials, as well as two rare ones from my archives that were given to me by friends: Here's Tony for Rheingold Beer, popular in the Northesast in the 1950s and '60s... Here's Tony for Visa Checkcard in 1998... Here's one featuring Tony for Japan's Tanaka ...
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Recording

Backgrounder: Tony Bennett - Movie Song Album

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 25, 2023

As we say goodbye to the late Tony Bennett, let's listen to one of his favorite Columbia albums—The Movie Song Album. Here's the song list as well as the arrangers and notable soloists: Song From “The Oscar" (Maybe September) (arr,cond Johnny Mandel) (Lou Levy, piano) Girl Talk (arr,cond Neal Hefti) (Jimmy Rowles, piano) The Gentle Rain (arr,cond Johnny Mandel) (Luiz Bonfá, guitar) Emily (arr,cond Johnny Mandel) The Pawnbroker (arr,cond Quincy Jones) Samba De Orfeu (arr,cond Johnny Mandel) (Luiz Bonfá, guitar) ...
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Obituary

Tony Bennett (1926-2023)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 24, 2023

For me, Tony Bennett's passing was personal. Since 2011, I interviewed the singer five different times for The Wall Street Journal, four at his art studio overlooking Central Park. Each time was a revelation, from the interview we did sitting in close quarters on a sofa to the last in 2018, when his Alzheimer's was already evident. It was one of the last media interviews he would give. The first time I saw Tony, I was with my artist father ...
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TV / Film

Bill Evans and Tony Bennett on TV

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 20, 2023

By October 1976, Bill Evans and Tony Bennett had recorded two albums of duets for Tony's short-lived Improv label. I've always had mixed feelings about the recordings. For me, it's strange to hear Evans as second fiddle to anyone and even stranger to hear Tony having to defer, musically, to his accompanist. But strangest of all, perhaps, is the contrasting personalities of Evans, the melancholy introvert, playing against Tony, the sunny-side-up optimist. For a long time, I've felt the two ...
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Recording

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

Source: adbsound
May 12, 2023

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 ...
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Recording

Richard X Bennett & Matt Parker Bring Their All-Encompassing Musical Visions Together With 'Parker Plays X,' Set For Release May 5 By BYNK Records

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
April 4, 2023

Friends and collaborators Richard X Bennett and Matt Parker heighten their creative relationship with the May 5 release of their album Parker Plays X on BYNK Records (Because You Never Know). The record finds pianist-composer Bennett and saxophonist Parker co-leading a session for the first time as they—along with bassist Adam Armstrong and drummer Julian Edmond—explore a dozen Bennett compositions that range from straight-ahead bebop to avant-garde freakouts to classic jump blues, among other styles. Both musicians embrace this kind ...
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Recording

Portland Bassist Ed Bennett Releases New CD "En Route"

Source: Michael Ricci
September 1, 2010

Ed Bennett, longtime bassist for Carmen McRae, and member of the Mel Brown Quartet (and Saphu Records CEO) will release his fifth title as bandleader. Ed Bennett will be having his CD Release Party on Friday September 3rd at Portland's prestigious jazz club, Jimmy Mak's, located at 221 NW 10th Ave. (between Davis and Everett). He will be performing from 8pm to 12 midnight. $10 cover charge. For reservations call: (503) 295-6542 Ed Bennett has long been considered one of ...
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“Ed Bennett is one of those powerhouse players whose virtuosity inspires the other participants on the bandstand to give it all they've got”. GEORGE FENDEL / JAZZSCENE PORTLAND, OR