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Jon Bentley

Jon Bentley is a Juno nominated saxophonist based in Vancouver, Canada. A versatile musician, Jon performs and records in many genres of music both as a leader and a sideman. He has recorded and/or performed professionally in concerts with musicians/ groups such as Kenny Wheeler, Seamus Blake, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias, Brad Turner, Denzal Sinclaire, Eddie Daniels, Oliver Lake, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Phil Dwyer's Saxophone Summit, The Temptations, Peggy Lee Band, Neil Swainson, and Metalwood. Aside from his participation in many recording projects as a sideman, Bentley has released two albums as a leader: "Jon Bentley Quintet: Motions" and "Diversions: American Prophecy." As a co-leader, Jon has released: "UGETSU: Live at the Cellar", "Wilson/Lee/Bentley: Escondido Dreams", and "Waxwing: A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists". He has performed across Canada, England, and Europe and has been featured many times on CBC Radio with live and studio recordings for Tonic, The Signal, Jazzbeat, West Coast Performance, Hot Air, and Arts National. Bentley was nominated for a Juno award in 2014 as a performer on Peggy Lee Band's album "Invitation."

Sharon Minemoto: Dark Night, Bright Stars

Read "Dark Night, Bright Stars" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
November 19, 2023

Dark Night, Bright Stars, the second recording by Vancouver, Canada-based pianist Sharon Minemoto and her well-knit quartet, has no need for unseemly frills or flourishes. This is simply clear, plain-spoken contemporary jazz, ably performed by Minemoto and her talented teammates. The album's dozen numbers, all written and arranged by Minemoto, are tasteful and engaging, as is her work at the keyboard, which is never short of inventive and pleasing. The same can be said of tenor saxophonist ...

Album Review

Sharon Minemoto: Dark Night, Bright Stars

Read "Dark Night, Bright Stars" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
October 23, 2023

Pianist and composer Sharon Minemoto has released an album entitled Dark Night, Bright Stars, which offers a diverse and emotionally resonant listening experience characterized by skillful musicianship and a sense of camaraderie among the participants. These long-time friends include tenor saxophonist Jon Bentley, bassist Darren Radtke and drummer Bernie Arai. All compositions are by Minemoto, providing insight into the diversity and depth of her musical expression. The opening track, “As Luck Would Have It," showcases the ...

Album Review

Waxwing: Flicker Down

Read "Flicker Down" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro

by Alberto Bazzurro
March 17, 2022

Disco elegante e al tempo stesso di nerbo, attento al dettaglio ma capace di lasciarsi andare quando necessario, riflessivo e pensoso, aereo, a tratti persino elegiaco (in particolare quando a prendere in mano le redini è il violoncello della sempre impeccabile Peggy Lee), quanto, altrove, deciso, affermativo, il tutto svariando da brani brevissimi (cinque attorno al minuto) a elucubrazioni ben più distese (fino agli otto minuti di “Joe's Time"): ecco cosa ci offre questo album del trio Waxwing, contraddistinto da ...

Album Review

Waxwing: A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists

Read "A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
July 28, 2015

The second album from this Vancouver-based trio--originally going by Wilson/Lee/Bentley, now known as Waxwing--is a study in contrasts. Idiosyncratic miniatures sit shoulder to shoulder with statements of serenity, eerie constructs and macabre scenarios are quickly replaced with comforting sounds, and uncertainty peaks around every corner. But there's a distinctive group sound and aesthetic here that transcends individual song structures or directions. Tony Wilson's mastery of subtle guitar effects, Peggy Lee's serious-minded turned stoking cello work, and saxophonist Jon Bentley's melodic ...

“Saxophonist Jon Bentley is one of Vancouver’s unsung musical talents, a gifted musician who never grandstands, but rather brings out the best in the musicians around him. For ’Motions’, Bentley surrounds himself with terrific musicians and lets them express themselves, not only through their playing but also through their compositions.” - Marke Andrews (Vancouver Sun) “’Motions’ seduces the ear rather than challenging it, but its apparent ease is more a tribute to the excellent players Bentley has assembled than to any lack of complexity or ambition