 Jon Bentley - Saxophonist
Born in 1973, Jon is a professional saxophonist from Vancouver, Canada. Bentley is a versatile musician, performing and recording in many genres of music both as a leader and a sideman. He has recorded and/or performed professionally in concerts with musicians/ groups such as Kenny Wheeler, Seamus Blake, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias, Brad Turner, Denzal Sinclaire, Eddie Daniels, Oliver Lake, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Phil Dwyer’s Saxophone Summit, The Temptations, Peggy Lee Band, and Metalwood. Bentley has released two albums as a leader: “Jon Bentley Quintet: Motions” and “Diversions: American Prophecy”, as well as “UGETSU: Live at the Cellar” as a co-leader. He has performed across Canada, England, and Europe and has been featured many times on CBC Radio with live and studio recordings for Jazzbeat, West Coast Performance, Hot Air, and Arts National.
Jon Bentley Quintet
In 2003, Jon Bentley formed his acoustic jazz quintet with Vancouver musicians: Brad Turner on trumpet, Chris Gestrin on piano, Bernie Arai on drums, and Andre Lachance on bass. The group mainly plays the original compositions and arrangements of its members. The quintet is widely influenced by many jazz artists, with an emphasis on the sounds of 1960’s Miles Davis and ECM. Recorded at Nelson Sound on March 23, 2004, “Motions” is the debut release of the Jon Bentley Quintet. It is dedicated to the memory of bassist Chris Nelson. It was released independently during the Vancouver Jazz Festival on June 30/ 2004 at the Jon Bentley Quintet performance at CBC Studio One Jazz.
At the 2003 duMaurier Jazz Festival Vancouver, the group played a concert with guest artist Kenny Wheeler. “The Jon Bentley Quintet featuring Kenny Wheeler and Brad Turner” performed “The Music of Kenny Wheeler” to a sold- out audience at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. It was a rare opportunity to hear two of the greatest Canadian trumpeters playing together on the same stage. The concert was recorded by CBC and was aired nationally on CBC’s Jazzbeat. Since that performance, the quintet has been playing locally in Vancouver, including a sold out show at the Western Front in January, 2004. On June 30/ 2004, the Jon Bentley Quintet performed at CBC Studio One Jazz during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The performance was aired on CBC radio in the fall of 2004.
UGETSU
Named after the Japanese word for “fantasy”, UGETSU is a sextet featuring some of Vancouver’s finest jazz musicians. Formed in early 2002, this ensemble is inspired by the early sixties incarnation of the Jazz Messengers (with Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, Jymie Merritt, Wayne Shorter and Art Blakey). UGETSU utilizes this classic hard bop frontline of trumpet, tenor saxophone and trombone. The band’s name is taken from the one the Messengers’ strongest albums, recorded live at Birdland in 1963. Recent performances include numerous gigs at the Cellar, recordings for CBC’s “Jazzbeat” and “Hot Air” programs, and well-received appearances at the previous five Vancouver International Jazz Festivals (2003-2007). Since the group’s inception, UGETSU have transcribed a large repertoire of music from the Jazz Messengers songbook and other hard bop ensembles. As well, the majority of music UGETSU performs is original music written by band members. UGETSU’s debut recording “Live at the Cellar” was released on March 31st 2006, and is available on the Cellar Live record label.
Diversions
In 1998, Jon formed a new- concept jazz trio entitled Diversions, featuring Chris Gestrin on keyboards and Bernie Arai on drums. After being awarded a FACTOR (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record) grant, they recorded and released their debut album entitled American Prophecy in 1999. Diversions plays consistently throughout Vancouver at various clubs and concert halls, as well as being featured on TV and radio programs. The trio played in the duMaurier Jazz Festival Vancouver in 1999, 2000, and 2001 and they have been featured in both the University of British Columbia and Capilano College Concert series’. American Prophecy was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year, at the 1999 West Coast Music Awards. Some of the music from American Prophecy was featured in the 2001 Anne Wheeler film Suddenly Naked.
Education
Jon Bentley has studied the saxophone extensively in jazz and in the classical realm. He received his Bachelor Degree in Jazz Performance from Capilano College in North Vancouver in 1997, and was awarded the CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) grant as top graduate. From 1997- 2000, Jon studied with world- wide critically acclaimed saxophonist Seamus Blake, both in Vancouver and in New York. In 2001, Bentley was the recipient of a Canada Council grant that sent him to London, England to study saxophone with master Stan Robinson. During Bentley’s two- year stint in England, Jon also sought out and studied composition and arranging with legendary Canadian trumpeter/ composer Kenny Wheeler.
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