Dave Bennett - Blood Moon [CD]

'Blood Moon', clarinettist Dave Bennett's sophomore release for Mack Avenue Records, is a dark and reflective collection that deals with loss, heartbreak, and ultimately a return to faith and hope. <p>'Blood Moon' finds Bennett bravely exploring this new terrain of original music, as he draws on influences from Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel and Genesis. To co-write five original songs, Bennett teamed up with Toronto-based composer, arranger and bassist Shelly Berger. "We both have a great love for all styles of music, especially pop," Bennett says. "We wanted to come up with something that hasn't been done before. Something original." <p>"I have performed music written by other people for most of my career," Bennett says. "After 20 years of playing professionally, I am finally walking down my own path. A lot of songs on the album come from personal stories that may be a little dark or moody. It has been the most fulfilling experience of my life, thus far." <p>A multi-instrument phenomenon, Bennett is a clarinet virtuoso who also plays electric guitar, piano, drums and sings. Entirely self-taught, Bennett has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops and has played the program with 50 other US and Canadian orchestras. An annual fixture at a dozen American music festivals, his "Rockin' the '50s" show always brings down the house, while his "Swing to Rock" Symphony Pops program premiered in 2016 with The Kingston Symphony Orchestra. Blood Moon is his follow up to the 2013 Mack Avenue release, 'Don't Be That Way'.