Jazz Articles about Koko Bermejo

About Koko Bermejo

Album Review

Daniel Bennett: The Deconstructed Songbook

Read "The Deconstructed Songbook" reviewed by Konstantin N. Rega

by Konstantin N. Rega
June 15, 2026

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Daniel Bennett takes on a list of covers for his project The Deconstructed Songbook with surprising results. Joined by drummer Koko Bermejo, Jason Yeager on piano, guitarist Nat Janoff and Jeff Dingler on electric bass, the group feels well-rounded. Though Bennett allows himself one original tune near the beginning, it does not feel out of place beside tracks by Horace Silver or Lennon-McCartney. For fans of Joni Mitchell who like the song “Both Sides Now" (even if Judy Collins' version ...

Album Review

Daniel Bennett Group: The Deconstructed Songbook

Read "The Deconstructed Songbook" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
April 26, 2026

In many cases, the idea of “deconstruction" suggests dismantling something to reveal its inner workings. When it comes to art, this is often done in ways that lean toward the avant-garde. But on The Deconstructed Songbook, veteran saxophonist Daniel Bennett takes a different approach. Rather than tearing down familiar material, he reshapes it into something both familiar and modern, offering a new perspective on a collection of mostly well-known songs. Bennett, an award-winning performer and composer with more ...

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Album Review

Daniel Bennett: Mr. Bennett's Mind

Read "Mr. Bennett's Mind" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
May 9, 2024

In the grand saga of his tenth album as a leader, we tiptoe into the whimsical wonderland of saxophonist Daniel Bennett's mind. He does not just wield the saxophone; he also performs on the flute, clarinet, guitar and keyboard, all while basking in the fervent performances of his bandmates. From the saucy saxophone solos to the rhythmic riddles laid down by bassist Kevin Hailey and drummer Koko Bermejo, each track is a lively escapade. Bennett's saxophone pirouettes through ...

Album Review

Daniel Bennett Group: New York Nerve

Read "New York Nerve" reviewed by Tyran Grillo

by Tyran Grillo
July 3, 2021

"This is not a pandemic record, but it is," says Daniel Bennett about his latest album. What might come across as a paradoxical statement is, from the multi-instrumentalist and composer's lips, a poignant assessment of his creative turn. “I didn't go on pause at all. I did my best as a human, using common sense while taking the blessings I had in my life. I didn't want to be consumed by fear. No disrespect, of course, to everyone who has ...