Blues Alley
Washington, DC
October 8 & 9, 2005

It was two nights and three shows to remember for this reviewer.  In the intimate setting of Blues Alley, located in the heart of Georgetown, Washington, D.C., David Benoit performed to sold-out crowds all weekend.  The trio, consisting of David on piano and keyboard, Jamey Tate on drums, and David Hughes on bass, have been playing together for almost a year.  I had seen them at this very venue last February, but something was different this time.  There was a cohesion of these three incredible musicians that was not as evident earlier this year.  You could tell they were having a great time on stage, and as the weekend wore on, each performance was better than the last.

Just this month, David Benoit released 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas.  He opened his set with “Christmas Is Coming,” an upbeat and memorable tune for most people in the audience.  You could see the pure joy on David’s face as he was playing this Vince Guaraldi tune.  Immediately following was “Snap!” from the Fuzzy Logic CD.  Jamey Tate really cut loose on the drums and David Hughes led the groove on bass.  “Swingin’ Waikiki” really made you feel like you were walking on the beach under a sunlight sky.

The kickin’ tune “Rejoyce” from Right Here, Right Now got the crowd pumped.  As David’s fingers played the melodic tune, David Hughes’ bass complemented him.  The “Charlie Brown Theme” brought back childhood memories for most folks.  It was fun to watch the crowd smiling and nodding their heads in remembrance of this classic melody.  Then came “9/11.”  David wrote this song right after the tragedy occurred in the U.S. and it can be found on the newly released Orchestral Stories.  As a gift to the citizens of this country and honoring those who did all they could, this uplifting piece is truly beautiful.  The audience was quite taken by this song, but the effects of the music and its message were even more evident on the faces of Jamey Tate and David Hughes.  Staying in the mellow mood, David played the beloved “Kei’s Song,” written for his wife of 20 years.

The last five songs of the set were live-wire tunes to get everyone moving.  “Jellybeans and Chocolate” written for David’s daughter, June, was pure joy.  Jamey Tate was grooving on drums.  He is so fun to watch because he really gets into every beat.  “Funkallero,” “Blue Rondo,” and “Watermelon Man” were David’s tribute to musicians past.  David Hughes took command with some bass solos, and watching him play the upright bass is an experience.  He is quite gifted.  Rounding out the set was a signature David Benoit tune…”Linus and Lucy.”  It was a fun, upbeat way to end this wonderful evening.  After the many years of seeing David Benoit perform, this was truly one of the best shows.  It encompassed so many favorites and introduced new compositions.  And the trio brought everything to life.

- Bonnie Schendell