Dave Askren

“When something is not broke don't fix it, might truly apply to the longstanding musical collective of Askren and Benedict. They offer the listener a unique experience of groove-based compositions, and deceivingly easy to listen music, that actually offers a complex carbonation of effervescent tunes, that will excite and engage the listening experience, even for the most discerning jazz aficionado.” - Geannine Reid

“Their latest concoction fusing jazz and groove is simply scrumptious.  Come Together is an amalgamation of top-notch players. Featuring: Dave Askren on guitar, Jeff Benedict on saxophone, Paul Romaine on drums, and Hammond B3 organist Joe Bagg. First and foremost, it is the feel and the groove, and both Benedict and Askren are in the pocket and killing it.  ” - Amity Hereweard

“Think Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Stanley Turrentine and you get the idea. Punchy grooves and riffs based on familiar changes. Maybe the roots are in the seventies but the branches stretch from the start of time to tomorrow morning, maybe later. Four groove merchants well versed in the idiom capable of dissecting an unexpected piece - the title track, the Beatles' Come Together for example - and, you've guessed it, coming back together totally transformed. Willow Weep for Me is the aftermath of an emotional car crash. The tension builds as soon as the B3 takes off and doesn't unwind until the last few measures - phew! Frequent changes of mood and tempo such as the above lift this above that of a mere blowing session. Lots of thought has gone into the settings to create an album that doesn't just aim at your toes but also reaches out to your heart and soul. You get the feeling that they are having a ball and, if they are (they are), you can bet your bottom bitcoin that you are too!” - Lance

“A friend of mine recently brought up the idea of a "jazz mood." When I asked him what he meant, he replied something about cool, relaxed and mellow, something to be enjoyed while wearing dark sunglasses. Indoors. At night. He's not really a jazz fan, but I kind of understood what he meant--jazz is supposed to be cool and hip. I don't want to suggest that it's not, but over the last year I've been submerged in the stuff and I think it's not mellow at all. It's dynamic and punchy and exciting at times, but I don't experience many old-school jazz moods these days. Besides, cool and relaxed leads you directly into that palace of sin known as "lite jazz." Let's not be that "cool," okay? Here's a surprise, however--guitarist Dave Askren and sax player Jeff Benedict, along with organ player Joe Bagg and drummer Paul Romain, have come up with a pure jazz album that is cool, relaxed and mellow in a completely undorky way. Come Together stands out from the crowd, and not because it's doing crazy things that have never been done before. This collection of standards, centered around the epic yet understated Beatles track in the title, exists in its own world where you can put on a pair of sunglasses at night and no one will say a word about it. Askren is the de facto leader here--he's one of those jazz guitarists who's been around forever and has what they call an "impeccable pedigree." (He's the guy who once recorded a fabulous tribute to Bill Evans--on guitar.) Benedict, despite the nature of his instrument, is the quiet core of the group. His sax performances are solid and understated and keep the quartet firmly grounded--a good idea since there is no bass player per se. That's where Joe Bagg's earthy and gritty Hammond B-3 comes in, supplying the lower foundation while almost single-handedly providing layer after layer of cool. Paul Romain's drumming is also fantastic in that same subtle way. He's not flying all over the place with macrodynamic flamboyance, but creating new depths of rhythm and shine. It shouldn't be a surprise that the sound quality of Come Together is uniformly excellent, but it has a dash of that live feel as if the audience was present but had their hands tied behind their backs. The immediacy of the performances and the chemistry within the quartet are fleshy and vibrant. But because the music is so calm, so confident, you might not recognize the greatness. It's there, however, sitting in the corner, wearing a pair of Wayfarers.” - staff

“The hip team of Jeff Benedict/ts and Dave Askren/g form an organic quartet with Joe Bagg/B3 and Paul Romaine/dr on a mix of swinging covers and originals. The beauty of a B3 combo is the ability to groove out any type of song, and here they make it work on material ranging from the slinky Beatles title track as well as the bop classic “Moment’s Notice.” Romaine shuffles to delight on “Groove Merchant” while on his “’Deed I Do” Askren weaves through the chords like a runner in an obstacle course. Benedict’s tenor/alto is meaty, searing through “Cheese Grits” and shouting out loud on  “Pineapple Head.” Toe tapping is in session here.” - George W. Harris

“Both new names to me. Askren, the son of a church organist/piano teacher. Saxophone and piano played a part in his early musical development but it was hearing George Benson and Pat Martino which inspired him to switch to the guitar. Study at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston followed, where he later became a tutor. Jeff Benedict is a saxophonist who lives by the maxim ‘less is more’. He truly tells a story with his horn. He turned professional at the age of 14 and his credentials include working with Dave Brubeck, Phil Woods and Gary Burton. Benedict is equally at home playing jazz or classical music. In addition, he is Professor of Music at California State, Los Angeles. For this date, Askren and Benedict are joined by Paul Romaine at the drums and Joe Bagg on Hammond B3 organ. Contrary to what one might expect from the album title, this isn’t a Lennon and McCartney tribute album. The opening track ‘Cheese Grits’ is firmly in the Blue Note Records mould. Think of the likes of Jimmy Smith and you will get the idea. Whilst the saxophonist plays alto on this piece, I’m put in mind of the tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. This is a powerful and yet gracefully swinging piece of music. ‘Come Together’ gets a suitably original makeover and works well. Played in 7/8. ‘Nardis’ follows and the familiar theme is transformed into a funky outing for the group. After disposing of the theme statement, the band alternates between swing and funk passages to great effect. ‘Moments Notice’ opens with a beguiling drum pattern before the tune appears. Recast imaginatively differently from what John Coltrane came up with all those years ago. ‘Hear This’ is more funky fun. In places I’m reminded of the work of fellow guitarist John Scofield. ‘Pineapple Head’ is a calypso-style piece and is great fun. ‘Willow Weep For Me’ allows the organist to break out with a powerful performance and somehow seems to inspire the saxophonist to even greater things. I imagine it is difficult to do anything other than pay respect to this familiar ballad and the group do it total justice. Gospel rears it’s head on a tune from the repertoire of the great Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra and ‘Groove Merchant’ is the ideal vehicle for this combo. Simply more funky blues from masters of the genre with Benedict on tenor saxophone. An up-tempo blues ‘Deed I Bu’ brings a thoroughly enjoyable set to a satisfying conclusion and the added bonus is to hear Benedict on soprano saxophone. If you are looking for a contemporary reference point for this group check out the recent releases of Dave Stryker reviewed elsewhere on this site.” - Alan Musson