"Bennett is a revelation. It's a rare saxophonist who makes every note count, but Bennett is one of them."— New York City Jazz Record
About the Trio
Bebop tradition meets
fearless improvisation
The Aaron Bennett Trio is one of the Bay Area's most compelling small-group jazz formations — a pianoless sax-bass-drums configuration that draws on the bebop tradition, jazz standards, and bold original composition without ever settling into predictability.
Anchored by Bennett's rich, probing tenor saxophone, the trio finds its power in the space between musicians: the responsive interplay of bassist Dan Seamans and drummer Smith Dobson Jr. creates a rhythmic conversation that is both grounded and wide open.
The group has released two critically acclaimed albums and performed at SF Jazz, cementing their reputation as a serious force in contemporary Bay Area jazz.
The Trio
Jazz standards · Bebop · Thelonious Monk · Original compositions
Blues · Adventurous improvisation
Watch — Live Performance
Discography — The Aaron Bennett Trio
Selected Performances
- SF Jazz Center — Trio Performance2023
- Café Claude, San Francisco2018 – 2020
- Chez Hanny, San Francisco2016 – 2023
- West Oakland Sound Series2024
- Mosswood Chapel, Oakland2023
Press
-
"He consistently takes the music into unpredictable areas while engaging in close interplay with his sidemen."
— Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene, October 2024 -
"Bennett is a revelation. It's a rare saxophonist who makes every note count, but Bennett is one of them."
— New York City Jazz Record, November 2016 -
"Bennett demonstrates his mastery of his instrument with great ease; he's a versatile player with an undeniable sense for jazz improvisation."
— INcursion
"The bravado of Aaron Bennett's tenor saxophone captures the grounded and robust spirit of our planet."— ARTFORUM, March 2019
Biography
A life devoted
to the search
Aaron Bennett decided to dedicate his life to music at fourteen, the moment he first heard John Coltrane. That revelation set him on a journey he continues to pursue today — one committed to jazz improvisation, exploration, and the relentless search for new expression in every performance.
After earning a BA in Music with an emphasis on classical saxophone performance, Bennett completed an MFA in Jazz Performance, studying with legendary figures including Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, Larry Koonse, and Joe LaBarbara at CalArts. His training extends far beyond jazz, encompassing musical traditions from Bali, Java, Ghana, Japan, and India — an expansive palette that informs the breadth and adventurousness of his playing.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bennett has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, SF Jazz Festival, and the Novara Jazz Festival in Italy. As a bandleader, collaborator, and sideman, he has worked across jazz, Afrobeat, pop/rock, and experimental music with an extraordinarily wide circle of artists.
Selected Festival & Venue Appearances
- SF Jazz Festival, San FranciscoMultiple
- Monterey Jazz Festival2018
- Novara Jazz Festival, Italy2012
- Outsound Music Summit2014 – 2015
- de Young Museum Friday Jazz2016
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts2015
- Oakland Museum of Art2011
- Berkeley Arts FestivalMultiple
- Center for New Music, San FranciscoMultiple
Notable Collaborators
Press
-
"He consistently takes the music into unpredictable areas while engaging in close interplay with his sidemen."
— Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene, October 2024 -
"The bravado of Aaron Bennett's tenor saxophone captures the grounded and robust spirit of our planet."
— ARTFORUM, March 2019 -
"Bennett is a revelation. It's a rare saxophonist who makes every note count, but Bennett is one of them."
— New York City Jazz Record, November 2016 -
"Bennett demonstrates his mastery of his instrument with great ease; he's a versatile player with an undeniable sense for jazz improvisation."
— INcursion -
"Breathtaking command of the instrument."
— All About Jazz, April 2001
Booking & Contact
For bookings, press inquiries, and licensing: