November 1997

Don Bennett
Simplexity
Candid Records

By Jack Sohmer

No upstart by any means, veteran bop pianist Don Bennett has scored twice before on Candid, but prior to these critically praised releases he spent decades scuffling in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Europe. However, one would never suspect these difficulties upon listening to his playing. An extremely heated and inventive jazzman in the post-Bud Powell tradition, here, in the inspired, swinging company of bassist Aleksandar Milosevic and drummer Doug Sides, he sails through "Delilah," "On Green Dolphin Street," six of his own originals and four formidably tempoed standards.