Online Press Kit * * * PRESS * * * High-Resolution Photos
For Press Inquiries: Natalie Johnsonius
press at alanbennettmusic.com / (917) 881-3450
Press Releases:
New York Shows: Dec 12, 2003
2003 U.S. Tour: June 11, 2003Read The Guardian Interview with Alan at MAKOR
The Guardian is London's most well-respected newspaper.
"Keeping up with Jones"
by Edward Helmore
The Guardian - Friday February 28, 2003
Friday, February 28, 2003 - "Keeping Up With Jones" by Edward Helmore
Quoted in Jewish Community Federation Online New Features Article
Jewish Community Federation is a charitable organization in Louisville, KY.
"Norah Jones Discovery Has Louisville Roots"
by Phyllis Shaikun
Jewish Community Federation - Friday July 11, 2003
Friday, July 11, 2003 - "Norah Jones Discovery Has Louisville Roots" by Phyllis Shaikun
"I loved playing with Alan [Bennett]. He loves what he does and it
was inspiring to be around him in the studio." - KENNY ARONOFFKenny Aronoff is one of the most in-demand and influential drummers in rock music. He has worked with many of the world's top artists including Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, The Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, The Rolling Stones, Meat Loaf, Willie Nelson, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin and many others. With a style of playing that combines power and finesse, Kenny was named #1 Pop/Rock Drummer and #1 Studio Drummer for 5 consecutive years by readers of Modern Drummer Magazine. Kenny's recent projects include Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Lee Ann Womack, Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, Melissa Etheridge and Joe Cocker.
"Widely versatile and intelligent...a world-class songwriter -
intelligence, profundity and melody." - EARBUZZ.COMEARBUZZ REVIEW:
Alan Bennett Band: Ordinary Miracle
by Don Kimenker (ears@earBuzz.com)Alan Bennett, with unassuming vocals and accomplished songwriting/arranging abilities, submits his CD, "Ordinary Miracle", a widely versatile and intelligent collection of 10 tunes that hits the pop/alternative/rock genre. The track, "Who Likes You Now", is our favorite track on the CD and a music artist's inventory and tally of friends before success, 'who helps you when the party ends who hangs around?'. The versus of the tune are like a perfectly glass of chocolate milk, as good as it gets, but appealing to the child in you as an artist - really wonderful melody played in unison by a flugel horn in the instrumental break. Track 7, a pop/rock anthemy "Never the Pearl", is advice and a metaphor for how hard it is to find the pearl in your potential life long mate, harmonies and chorus mp3'd here. Lyric rings symbolically, 'all these oysters, never the pearl, you see the woman but not the girl, always eager but never the bride, you better dig deeper, deeper inside.' Bennett's voice has hints of influence from Marshall Crenshaw and maybe even James Taylor - the voice isn't thick, but story telling and laid back - with technical abilities within the tone that are obviously well developed. The opening track, "Bound for Better" is a country/pop song about leaving town and heading on to a different future and 'better days'. Bennett plays Simonish-folk in track 2, "One by One" - like we said, versatile. There a couple of live tracks on the record as well - track 3, "Presidents and Sharks" as well as tracks 8 and 9 - the ninth track a live version of "Bound for Better". The final track, "Up 'til Now", is just guitar and vocal, and the bare format provides all the evidence anyone needs that Bennett is a world class songwriter - intelligence, profundity, and melody - simply presented and drilled into the mind. A poet, a musician - a performer. We wish him all the success he can stand and that he's a good decipherer of "who likes you now" . . .as success shouldn't be far away. Ooops, there's a bonus track - track 11 is a spacey/ska poppy cover version of the 5th Dimension's "Age of Aquarius" - good call.
"Strong songs, played and sung extremely well. Where I come from,
that's called getting your money's worth." - BLAH3.COMON THE WAY FROM HERE TO THERE:
Alan Bennett Band: Ordinary Miracle
by Don Waller (editor@blah3.com)You can just tell by listening to Ordinary Miracle that Allan Bennett has seen quite a bit of the world. Bennett and his band cover a variety of styles and rhythms as big as the world. He and his band can go from the SoCal roots rock of 'Bound For Better' to the Little Feat-inspired 'Take Me Along', they show a world view of music that extends far beyond their Long Island stomping grounds. 'Who Likes You Now' is a bittersweet acoustic tune about rock stardom and trust. Bennett can be compared to a variety of composers stylistically (Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Lennon-McCartney), but his songwriting seems to take them better elements of his influences and casts them in a new light. The chorus of 'Busted' is a case in point - you can point out the elements all right, but Bennett uses them in his own context. It's on songs like 'Never The Pearl' where Bennett moves the material to a maturity level far above most music like it. 'Easy Distraction' (one of 3 choice live tracks on the CD) rides an easy groove while casting a dim view of Club Culture. It's a finely-wrought account of people and their problems - sort of a New York City 'Hotel California'. There's an honest edge to this album - basic, rootsy rock never goes out of style, and that's Bennett and crew's stock in trade. Whether it's live or in the studio, the band casts an overall vibe not unlike albums like Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. Bennett's musical imagination goes off in many directions, and the band is eager to follow his instincts. The Alan Bennett band appear frequently in the NYC area (that's where I got the CD), and this album is a very good representation of what you'll get should you see them live - strong songs, played and sung extremely well. Where I come from, that's called getting your money's worth. Find out more about the band, including where you can see them live and buy the CD, at alanbennettband.com.
"Bennett proves quite the wordsmith on every song.
Very much worth discovering." - INDIE-MUSIC.COMINDIE-MUSIC REVIEW:
Alan Bennett Band: Ordinary Miracle
by Les ReynoldsAlan Bennett has this easy, folk-rocker way about him that almost makes you forget not all his lyrics are up-beat and hopeful like the assertive "Bound for Better" (and the live version of the same). The New Yorker's group as a whole is a pretty good buncha guys. When this quartet kicks in with all their vocals, they kinda remind you of the Eagles -- although the California boys will get the nod instrumentally. Bennett & Co. is tight, though...solid, really solid. The CD, made of 10 songs all written by Bennett, is out the gate running. The first three tunes are up-tempo and, while "Bound for Better" sounds like a hopeful, self-fulfilling prophecy... "I'm bound for better, I swear...Everything is broken so maybe there's nothing left now to go wrong...It's a long way, everyday...I don't mind dying, I don't care, if i spend my life trying I'm gonna get somewhere...". "One by One" tells of leaving one situation after another, many roads and decisions ("One by one we scatter/One by one we disapper/One by one we don't matter/One by one.... I have heard the voice of seasons/Summer whispering to Autumn, 'come'/The words, like leaves, falling from the trees one by one") until you reach the edgy, angst-ridden "Presidents and Sharks" ("...Is there a leader here among us/Is there somebody worth their salt/Presidents and sharks taking aim in the dark/No one is safe anymore". There are other tunes with excellent, insightful and sometimes possibly self-disclosing lyrics... Actually, Bennett proves quite the wordsmith on every song. He seems to write somewhat in the mold of Jackson Browne and Bruce Cockburn, although the latter has a much harder bite than Bennett. Overall, "Ordinary Miracle" is a quite good, definitely worth listening to -- with a few "surprises" thrown in... Just listen to "One by One", "Busted" and the mystery track... see for yourself... Alan Bennett and the guys are very much worth discovering."
"Great Relaxed Vibes!" - SOUNDCLICK.COM
SOUNDCLICK REVIEW:
Alan Bennett Band: Ordinary Miracle
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