Jazz Articles about Dave Askren

Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

by Jack Bowers
June 15, 2023

There are times when a little extra effort goes a long way. To record the Denver Sessions, guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict flew from the Los Angeles area, vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker from New York City to team with the Mile High city's Patrick McDevitt (bass) and Paul Romaine (drums) for Askren and Benedict's twelfth album together and fourth as co-leaders. Was it worth the trip? In one listener's opinion, first-class tickets, no matter the price, would be cheap ...

Dave Askren / Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

by Edward Blanco
June 3, 2023

Los Angeles-based guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict collaborate on their fourth album as co-leaders on the Denver Sessions, an exquisite ten-piece set of primarily original music recorded in Denver, Colorado. The leaders have been playing together for around thirty years in the LA area but, for some time, had wanted to perform with New York-based vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker and decided to make it happen with the help of drummer Paul Romaine who encouraged the move to Denver for ...

Jeff Benedict Big Band: The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

by Jack Bowers
January 30, 2021

As saxophonist Jeff Benedict is a professor emeritus of music at California State University-Los Angeles, he shouldn't be overly concerned if an impartial observer should decide to grade the southern California-based Jeff Benedict Big Band's second album, The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful. After careful listening, herewith is the report card. Brass and reeds: A. Rhythm section: A. Cohesion: A. Swing quotient: A. Soloists: A. Choice of material: A. Arrangements: A. Album title: A+. In ...

Dave Askren: Come Together

by Geannine Reid
July 30, 2018

Collaboration and teamwork are always essential elements in any effort that takes the total sum of the parts to create a collective outcome. This is even more so a part of the equation in music. Music is mathematics, but what makes the experience even more enjoyable is the creativity and heart that each player puts into the execution of the mathematically based language. This is immediately evident in Dave Askren and Jeff Benedict's latest project Come Together. The two leaders ...

Dave Askren and Jeff Benedict: It's All About The Groove

by Geannine Reid
February 9, 2014

Guitarist Dave Askren and Saxophonist Jeff Benedict have teamed up as co-leaders to form an ensemble that explores six standards and four originals with a CD entitled, It's All About The Groove. With Askren and Benedict forming the nucleus of the project, they are joined by drummer Ramon Banda and bassist John Belzaguy. The title of the CD is more than just a likable slogan; for Askren it is the “groove" that holds the backbone of all good jazz and ...

Dave Askren: Some Other Things

by Jim Santella
April 4, 2006

Guitarist Dave Askren leads a stellar quartet on Some Other Things through a program of modern mainstream jazz originals and one standard. He provides a comfortable ambience, with several layers of harmony all wrapped up in nine lyrical melodies. Typically, the quartet drives straight ahead: forceful to some extent, but still laid-back enough to let the session swing enjoyably.

Askren's guitar voice combines a smooth texture with fluid technique. He and saxophonist Jeff Benedict represent a cool side ...

Dave Askren: Some Other Things

by Edward Blanco
March 27, 2006

This new release by Los Angeles-based jazz guitarist Dave Askren is his second album in four years with a small ensemble cast. In his first, a trio tribute to Bill Evans titled Re: Bill Evans, Askren recorded with bassist Mike Flick and drummer Steve Sykes. Some Other Things brings together Flick, drummer Jon Nathan, Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict to form the Dave Askren Quartet. Interestingly enough, both recordings are missing a basic rhythm instrument that's common in most musical ...