Artis-Naples was visited by ghosts from the Swing Era past on Friday night, December 8, 2023.
When Dave Bennett took the stage with his quartet comprised of himself (Clarinet, Guitar, Piano and Vocals), Jeff Kressler on Piano, Ed Fedewa playing the Bass and Pete Siers on Drums, the audience was transported into an era long gone, but fortunately, not forgotten.
The ghosts of swing past had arrived, not to haunt, but to swing. And man, did they swing.
Closing your eyes and you were suddenly listening to THE Benny Goodman, THE Gene Krupa, THE Teddy Wilson, THE Harry Goodman.
Scary. Amazing.
Opening your eyes you feasted on the rich, pounding jazz and motions of the musical range from one of the most accomplished musicians around: Dave Bennett. With his quartet behind him, there are no words that work to describe what we heard that night. Or felt. Well, maybe one.
Solid.
People’s feet were tapping. People were clapping. Some jumped up and started vibrating. Yes, vibrating.
No pictures are allowed in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis-Naples, nor are recordings, so I can’t prove what I’m reporting.
However, just ask anyone who was there. We were all visited by the spirits of swing.
After their rendition of Sing Sing Sing, I yelled “Gene Krupa” over Siers’ unreal performance, but no one paid attention including Pete Siers, whom I afterward took a picture with (proof I was there!).
Before that and after the whole performance ended, I walked up to the first row where Siers was talking to some ladies and told him, “You are Gene Krupa. I didn’t think it was possible in my lifetime to see him, but you are him. You are unbelievable.” One of the ladies immediately said looking at me and smiling proudly, “Oh thank you for telling him that.”
I found out outside when the picture was taken with him that it was Siers’ sister who thanked me. It was also a family affair, as the quartet hails from Michigan.
Even at the end, when Bennett told the audience to all stand up as he proceeded to bring Jerry Lee Lewis to life with his Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On (including Bennett playing the piano backward and standing on one leg ala Jerry), you couldn’t help but realize you were really looking at spirits – shadows that walked the earth and played music in the past that were suddenly here, in front of all of us. These four mortals through their music did something supernatural. Yes. It was that eerie. And boy, was it fun.
So, don’t miss the Dave Bennett show if he comes your way. And remember: don’t be nervous when they start playing. Just close you eyes and go back in time! Subscribe to his newsletter here.
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