Thu, Jun 16
|Merchant's Park
Thursday Night Live: Planet Kniffen
An eclectic, forward-thinking jazz ensemble, Planet Kniffen showcases the writing of drummer and bandleader Darryl Kniffen. The band released their debut effort Dreamland in April 2018, an album that showcased their cross-pollinated blend of post-bop and electric fusion.
Time & Location
Jun 16, 2022, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Merchant's Park, Downtown Bennington, VT 05201, USA
Event Details:
In 2017, Kniffen formed his Planet Kniffen sextet as an outlet for his expansive
compositional style, weaving in bits of jazz, rock, soul, and more. Joining him were
several longtime associates, including trumpeter Dylan Canterbury, saxophonist
Matthew Steckler, guitarist Shaun McCarthy, pianist Franz Robert, and bassist Jason
Schwartz. After playing a slate of live shows, including appearances at the Easthampton
Jazz Festival, Vermont Jazz Center, and Readsboro Arts Festival, they released their
debut album Dreamland. Dreamland debuted at #5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz
Album chart and #13 on the Billboard Jazz Album chart in May 2018.
Heavy grooves, soaring melodies, and dreamy soundscapes make a Planet Kniffen
concert a wonderfully rich musical experience. In the music of Dreamland, the listener is
invited to embark on a musical journey through mystery, passion, tranquility, and hope.
Darryl Kniffen describes the debut effort as “an opportunity to enter a musical world. A
world of beauty, complexity, and mystery.” Planet Kniffen has created a new sound that
is distinct and exciting. The opening track “Abyss” has a raw, powerful energy and
groove that just won’t quit. The second track “Peace Journey” dances through exciting,
celebratory peaks and reflective, peaceful valleys. The singular ballad “Midnight Drive” is
dreamy, hypnotic and spiritual in nature. The high-energy “Tick Tock” captures the
fast-paced, frenetic energy of life through clock-like ostinatos and wild flights of
improvisation. Jazziz Magazine writes "With one notable exception - a jazz
interpretation of AC/DC's "Back in Black" - all compositions were penned by the
drummer, who displays a range of inspirations and emotions across an evocative
nine-song set. The cohesion of the musicians is apparent, and they seem locked in with
one another musically and conceptually." Vermont Jazz Center’s Eugene Uman writes
“when taken as a whole, Kniffen's music achieves a naturally balanced panorama that
carefully juxtaposes, danceable grooves with dreamy landscapes, intense
bebop-influenced instrumental outbursts with mind-calming pads. Kniffen's music is a
manifestation of joy and deep reflection and it deserves to be heard. ”
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