Published: September 26, 2008 09:10 am      

DSO features music of Benny Goodman

DANVILLE — Dave Bennett is a self-taught musician, described in the past as a prodigy, who brings to life the classic sound and music of Benny Goodman. It’s appropriate that he, along with the others members of his sextet will appear with the Danville Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 4 in “A Tribute to Benny Goodman” during this year, the 100th anniversary of Goodman’s birth.

Bennett, a Michigan native, began playing the clarinet at 10-years-old. His only music lessons were those in public school, but Benny Goodman inspired him from the start.

Along with the first clarinet his grandfather bought for him, Bennett also received a Goodman tape.

“I don’t try to copy him,” Bennett said. “But I find his songs very driving, almost animalistic at times,” he said. “They’re intense and passionate.”

DSO Music Director Jeremy Swerling said of Bennett, “I hope those who missed Benny Goodman’s performance with the DSO in 1975 will be able to catch it this time around. It’s almost like Benny was reincarnated.”

The DSO, conducted by Maestro Swerling, will join in the performance of some of the King of Swing’s best-loved songs including “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “Bugle Call Rag” and “Stompin’ at the Savoy.”

The DSO also will perform “Times Square” from Leonard Bernstein’s “On the Town” and Leroy Anderson’s “Clarinet Candy,” with Bennett joined by DSO principal clarinetist, Marina Antoline.

The 24-year-old Bennett has been described as a prodigy by some music critics. They also note he understands the timeless-ness of Goodman’s music.

Chuck Hess, former Danville District 118 music teacher and now pastor of North Side Church of the Nazarene, reiterated that “good music is timeless. Benny Goodman historically wrote really good tunes.

“What he wrote transferred really well to the clarinet,” Hess said. “There was something infectious about his sound.”

In addition to the swing music most associate with Goodman, there was a whole other side to him as a musician. Danville Area Community College music instructor Eric Simonson offered his insight into the other dimension that made Goodman great.

“In addition to being the King of Swing, he was also the very first virtuoso clarinetist (in classical or jazz music) I remember hearing about,” Simonson said.

“Today, when one thinks of famous ‘living’ clarinetists, probably the first to come to mind to classical music lovers is Richard Stoltzman. But who does he cite as a major influence, in fact his earliest mentor? Why, Benny Goodman of course.

“The first recordings of classical clarinet that I remember listening to were done by Benny Goodman,” Simonson said. “One recording, in particular, that I enjoyed was of Bela Bartok’s ‘Contrasts.’ The composer himself was on piano, Joseph Szigeti on violin and Benny Goodman on clarinet. Bartok wrote the piece for Goodman.

“Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein and others wrote works for him too. And really all of the great orchestra and chamber works featuring clarinet were all recorded by Goodman, and for some time … remained something of a standard against which other recordings were weighed.

“So, I think people should understand that he did a lot for classical music too, not just jazz,” Simonson said.

Swerling anticipates that this season’s repertoire will attract new audience members to the DSO. Other concerts include December’s “Christmas with Maureen McGovern,” “Classical Masterworks” featuring cellist Alexandre Boouzlov in March and the May season finale “With Strings Attached” featuring Buddy Wachter on banjo.

IF YOU GO

Danville Symphony Orchestra presents “A Tribute to Benny Goodman,” featuring The Dave Bennett Sextet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Danville High School auditorium.

Ticket prices for adults are $25 in Section A, $23 in Section B; senior ticket prices are $23 in Section A, $21 in Section B; student tickets are available for $12. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. To order tickets by phone, call 443-5300.