Jazz musician to perform concert for Milford library
MILFORD — New York jazz musician Daniel Bennett discovered something unexpected when he and his band, the Daniel Bennett Group, began performing live Zoom shows. It turns out audience interaction is much higher over a video stream than it is in person, he said.
“We learned on accident that the audience is very talkative with us,” he said. “The first Zoom concert we did, we were so surprised because immediately people on the Zoom call were asking us questions, and it became almost like a Q&A.”
Bennett and drummer/ keyboardist Koko Bermejo will be performing a Zoom concert for the Milford Public Library May 19 at 7 p.m. He said the style of talking to the audience in between sets has become relaxing.
He said the style of talking to the audience in between their sets became relaxing to them.
“We are realizing that the audience is incredibly complex because some want to ask questions; others just want to listen to the music,” said Bennett.
Nancy Abbey, the library’s assistant director, said the show was possible because the library patrons have successfully adapted to following programs online.
“Daniel has been performing all through the pandemic, on Zoom and Facebook Live and on the streets of New York, to much acclaim,” Abbey said. “We’re so fortunate that our local patrons have made the adjustments to follow our programs online.”
Performing via Zoom was an adjustment for the musicians, too, Bennett said. Like everybody else, musicians had to pivot when the pandemic hit. After talking to Bermejo, the two decided to broadcast livestream concerts.
“We’ve done about 50 of these live stream shows in venues all across the country in the last year,” he said.
Before doing any of the live streams, Bennett said they rehearsed for about two weeks to make sure everything was working and to make the show interesting with just two people.
“That allows us to keep our rates kind of low, which is good, so that’s why venues can afford this because it’s just two musicians,” said Bennett. “We somehow figured out a good plan to make this work.”
Abbey said the smaller performances allowed the library to bring more eclectic shows to local audiences.
“One thing that is good about Zoom is our ability to get performers from far and wide, since we don’t have to pay for travel and lodging,” she said.
Bennett said libraries have become hubs for performances, and more and more musicians are starting to take notice.
“If you think about it, that’s incredible because there is a library in every single town in America,” he said. “My group has played literally over 200 libraries before the pandemic. We were everywhere in every major city.”
Bennett, 41, started playing when he was 10 years old. He participated in marching band and studied saxophone at New England Conservatory in Boston. He started the Daniel Bennett Group in 2014, with himself on saxophone and a friend on the banjo. The band has changed over the years, and now it consists of Bennett on saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Bermejo. Bennett has performed with the Portland Symphony and the New Hampshire Festival Orchestra and on Broadway and Off-Broadway theater productions in New York City.
During the concert for the Milford Library, Bennett said he would probably demonstrate some of the unusual woodwind instruments he owns. Bermejo also can show his drum and keyboard setup. The pair will be performing songs from their new album, New York Nerve.
The program is funded by the Friends of the Milford Library. For Zoom information on the Daniel Bennett Group concert, email nabbey@milfordct.gov or follow the Zoom link through the library’s section at the City of Milford website, ci.milford.ct.us.