Cal
Bennett, a dynamic bandleader and top-notch sax player is a versatile
and electrifying performer. His professional career was launched as a
band member and featured performer on a song titled "No Name
Bar" from Isaac Hayes' Academy Award winning "Shaft" LP.
He has also toured with Niki Haris, Carl Anderson and recorded with Ice
Cube and served as musical director for Toni Braxton on The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno.
Cal has a number of writing credits including a series of compositions
for the soundtrack of the Action Bros. motion picture release of "Ninja
Turf" and scored the original music for an Image Entertainment 2001
release, "The Passion Network" on Showtime. His music has been
used on many TV shows such as Life Styles of the Rich & Famous
and Knotts Landing. His music is used in an up coming 2005 release,
"Venice Underground", from writer/director Eric Delabarre
of "Law and Order" fame.
Recently, Cal has acted as "the sax player" and part pitchman
for SBC's new TV commercial currently airing on networks from Los
Angeles to Chicago performing Eric Clapton's "Layla". He
has also been a featured soloist for the National Anthem for The
Lakers games over the past two years; most recently appearing on a
Jan. 25th, 2005 game against Seattle. Also, he is the featured jazz
artist in the new Starbucks print campaign "Hear Music" set
for summer 2005.
His debut CD, "A Stolen Moment" soared to number 11 on the
Billboard Jazz Contemporary Chart followed by "Moments Later"
and "Ancient Memories/Pulse Meditation". These projects
not only showcased his accomplished saxophone playing, but also
demonstrated his talents as a writer and producer. For 2005, his
cutting edge, scintillating Live at the Blue Note~Las Vegas was released
in Feb. 2005 on Thump Records/Jazz Notes and the now he released his
best project yet, "Poise In Crisis" on Big Earthbeat Music
available on Cal's web site, CD Baby, Amazon, Tower Records and
Amoeba. Stay tuned. There is more to come.