CURRICULUM
VITAE:
I studied privately
with Dave Gross and Joe Allard and at the Berklee School of Music
before moving to Europe in 1978, where, for 18+ years, I performed
with the Stefan Bauer Quartet, the Reinhardt Gloeder Quartet, and
toured with Klaus Lenz Big Band. I also freelanced with Dennis Luxion,
Charles Green, Charlie Mariano, John Thomas, Mel Lewis, Joachim
Kuhn, among others. From 1980 to 1996 I was a member of the Jon
Eardley (formerly with both Chas. Parker and Chet Baker) Sextet
with Dennis Mackrel (NYC-VillageVanguard big band) as guest drummer,
the Alex Sputh Quartet, recorded TV and radio performances and commercial
spots, etc, and performed at various Jazz Festivals (eg., Leuven,
and Spa [Belgium]; North Sea, and Maastricht [Holland]; Koelner,
Aachen, and Leverkusen [Germany] and Sweden).
I taught Jazz and Jazz-related
improvisation, theory, and technique for all instruments (individual
instruction and workshops) at the University of Dortmund, Dortmund
Music School Meerbusch Music Academy and Leichlingen Music School
(both extensions of the Public Education System) to many young students,
as well as young adults, adults, and professionals. I also gave
private lessons and workshops, and organized a number of ongoing
sessions in clubs and community centers for professionals, amateurs,
and students. I worked for both Jiggs Whigham (Stan Kenton) and
the WDR (radio) big band hand-writing (preferred) transcriptions/transpositions
of original scores to individual parts. Additionally, I was trained
(in NYC) to, and regularly repaired/overhauled (in Germany), saxophones
for students, schools and professionals.
Since moving to Waverly,
N.Y in 1998, I have freelanced with, among others, Steve Brown,
the Aceto bros., Pat Kane, Brian Murphy, George Reed, Dino Losito
and Doug Robinson. The Jesse Bennett Duo/Trio/Quartet has been featured
in the Polyhymnia Music Club's yearly fund raisers, performed with,
among others, Johnny Russo at Cornell Univ. graduation and reunion
functions, numerous Finger Lake Wineries, regional Arts Council
events, gallery openings, various award ceremonies (e.g: NYSCA-DEC
grants, Black Student Awards at SUNY Binghamton and Mansfield Univ.,
NYS Wine Competitions at the Corning Museum of Glass). I've performed
at jazz festivals in Corning, Syracuse and Ithaca, N.Y., as well
as with the Brian Murphy Quintet, which performed its CD release
concert in February 2003. I have taught jazz at various area NYS
Public Schools through BOCES, and at the Ithacas' Community School
of Music and Art (2003 summer jazz course). I also organized a local
fifteen week long jazz series in the summer of 1998 , three summers
of (first time in Waverly) music& arts street fairs and continue
to teach and perform at clubs, festivals, schools, and universities.
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