{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Eli Bennett | image = Eli Bennett.jpg | caption = Eli Bennett performing in Vancouver in 2018 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|03|09}} | birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia | genre = Jazz, Pop | instrument = Tenor saxophone | label = Independent, SaxAndViolin Records, Addo Records | website = {{URL|www.elibennett.com}} | occupation = Musician, composer | birth_name = Eli Parker Bennett | years_active = 2004–present }}
{{Short description|Canadian saxophonist and composer}}
'''Eli Bennett''' (born March 9, 1989)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eli Bennett music @ All About Jazz|url=https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/elibennett|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=All About Jazz Musicians|date=February 17, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> is a Canadian Juno Award-nominated jazz saxophonist and Leo Award-winning film composer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leo Awards, Nominees & Winners by Name|url=https://www.leoawards.com/past_nominees_and_winners/nominees_and_winners_by_name_2018.php|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=www.leoawards.com}}</ref> He has composed more than twenty film scores<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eli Bennett|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2415298/|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=IMDb}}</ref> and in 2018 received his first Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Documentary for the film ''Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas.''<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 5, 2018|title=Socan #Composerswhoscore Cash in on Vancouver's Cachet|url=https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/socan-composerswhoscore-cash-in-on-vancouvers-cachet/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=SOCAN: Words & Music}}</ref> He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Premier of BC for his contribution to the arts in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 31, 2013|title="Pillars" of B.C. honoured by Premier Clark|url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2009-2013/2013prem0011-000160.htm|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=archive.news.gov.bc.ca}}</ref> He is married to violinist and vocalist Rosemary Siemens with whom he records and performs with their instrumental duo SaxAndViolin and in 2019 they performed together at The Vatican.<ref>{{Cite news|last=MacLellan|first=Julie|date=November 29, 2019|title=These Burnaby musicians are parents, performers and rising international stars|work=Burnaby Now|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/entertainment/these-burnaby-musicians-are-parents-performers-and-rising-international-stars-1.24022944|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref>
== Biography ==
=== Early life === Bennett was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as the firstborn son of Canadian composer, cellist, and Powder Blues Band drummer Daryl Bennett.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2015|title=How I got the jazz gene: seven artists reveal their roots|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2015/06/12/how-i-got-the-jazz-gene-seven-artists-reveal-their-roots.html|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref> Bennett grew up listening to his father's film scores in his studio and was introduced to the alto saxophone through his father at age 11. At age 13, Bennett switched to the tenor saxophone and began accompanying his father on gigs at Vancouver's iconic blues bar The Yale, where he shared the stage every Monday night with local blues musicians.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=June 10, 2015|title=Eli Bennett keeps his jazz audience-friendly|url=https://www.straight.com/music/467336/eli-bennett-keeps-his-jazz-audience-friendly|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en}}</ref>
=== Career === In 2006, Bennett was selected as a member of the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Band and performed at Grammy Awards events in Los Angeles such as the Grammy Nominee Celebration, Grammy Celebration After Party and the Grammy Salute to Jazz where he performed with Oscar Peterson, Barry Harris and Hank Jones.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vancouver Jazz Saxophonist to Perform at Grammys Jazz Elements: jazz & blues music blog with news, reviews, concerts & more, with a Canadian focus|url=http://www.jazzelements.com/2007/01/18/vancouver-jazz-saxophonist-to-perform-at-grammys/|access-date=July 9, 2020|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711135011/http://www.jazzelements.com/2007/01/18/vancouver-jazz-saxophonist-to-perform-at-grammys/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was selected again in 2007 as a member of the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Combo and shared the stage with Phil Woods and James Moody at the Grammy Salute to Jazz.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2007 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensembles|url=https://www2.grammy.com/PDFs/GRAMMY_Foundation/2007_GBGJE_Web_List.pdf|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=GRAMMY.com}}</ref> In 2006, Bennett opened for Herbie Hancock at the Telluride Jazz Festival<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 10, 2006|title=Funk straight outta Dunbar|url=https://www.straight.com/article/funk-straight-outta-dunbar|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en}}</ref> and for McCoy Tyner at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival where he was awarded the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award.
In 2007, Bennett was awarded a full scholarship to study music at Humber College in Toronto where he studied with saxophonists Pat LaBarbara, Kirk McDonald and shared the stage with Chris Potter, Terence Blanchard, Mike Stern, Kurt Elling and Dave Grusin. After graduating from Humber College in 2011, Bennett returned to Vancouver to apprentice with his father as a film composer. Alongside his father, he composed additional music for the films ''Nash'', ''The Exhibition'', and co-composed the score for ''Take Back Your Power,'' and ''Human Harvest.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kurucz|first=John|title=Father-son musicians make Leo Awards history|url=http://www.vancourier.com/news/father-son-musicians-make-leo-awards-history-1.23330308|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Vancouver Courier|date=June 10, 2018 }}</ref> His original score for ''Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas'' won a 2018 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Documentary as well as a SOCAN Foundation Award.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=MacLellan|first=Julie|title=Burnaby composer scores a Leo Award first|url=http://www.burnabynow.com/entertainment/burnaby-composer-scores-a-leo-award-first-1.23324281|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Burnaby Now|date=June 4, 2018 }}</ref> He also composed and performed music on an episode of the TV show ''Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman.''<ref>{{Citation|title="Through the Wormhole" Does Time Really Exist? (TV Episode 2011) – IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1904541/fullcredits|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref> [[File:SaxAndViolin (Rosemary Siemens and Eli Bennett) in 2020.jpg|left|thumb|Eli Bennett's duo SaxAndViolin features himself on saxophone alongside his wife Rosemary Siemens on violin]] Bennett released his debut album ''Breakthrough'' in 2014 on Addo Records<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gama|first=Raul da|date=April 6, 2015|title=Eli Bennett: Breakthrough|url=https://jazzdagama.com/made-in-canada/eli-bennett-breakthrough/|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Jazz da Gama|language=en-US}}</ref> (distributed by Universal Music Canada)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eli Bennett: Breakthrough album review @ All About Jazz|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/breakthrough-eli-bennett-addo-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=All About Jazz|date=February 17, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> and re-released independently in 2016. The album was named No. 4 Top debut album by the Ottawa Citizen<ref>{{Cite web|title=2014 Jazz List Bliss|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/jazzblog/2014-jazz-list-bliss|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Ottawa Citizen|language=en-CA}}</ref> and received a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Best Jazz Album.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2015 Western Canadian Music Award Winners Revealed|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/2015_western_canadian_music_award_winners_revealed|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}}</ref> In 2015, Bennett was nominated for the TD Grand Jazz Award by the Montreal International Jazz Festival where he performed with his quartet as part of his Canadian Breakthrough Tour.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quartier des spectacles {{!}} Eli Bennett|url=https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/en/activity/5337/eli-bennett|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=www.quartierdesspectacles.com|language=en}}</ref> He also performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Calgary Jazz Festival, Medicine Hat Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival and Toronto Jazz Festival.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cleugh|first=Janis|date=June 2, 2015|title=Following in his father's footsteps – Port Coquitlam jazz musician Eli Bennett launches his Breakthrough tour on June 20.|work=Tri-City News|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/entertainment/following-in-his-father-s-footsteps-1.1954778|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The album received significant international radio play, including regular play on CBC Radio Canada, Stingray Music, and JAZZ.FM91.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burdi|first=Alysia|date=July 13, 2017|title=Humber Alumni Representating Canadian Jazz Music|url=https://humber.ca/today/news/humber-alumni-representing-canadian-jazz-music|access-date=October 13, 2020|website=Humber Today}}</ref>
In 2017, Bennett was named 35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35 by CBC Music and described as "...one of the most underrated instrumentalists in jazz today. The greatest aspect of this virtuoso musician is his chameleon-like ability to master funk, soulful music, bebop, modal jazz and all styles in between while keeping his distinctive sound."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Morin|first=Scott|date=June 22, 2017|title=35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35|work=CBC Music|url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/read/35-best-canadian-jazz-artists-under-35-1.5006354|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref>
In 2018, he earned a Juno Award nomination alongside Five Alarm Funk for his work on the album ''Sweat''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 6, 2018|title=From Bublé to Anciients to 5 Alarm Funk, Vancouver well-represented as 2018 Juno nominations are announced|url=https://www.straight.com/music/1029141/buble-anciients-5-alarm-funk-vancouver-well-represented-2018-juno-nominations-are|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en}}</ref>
=== SaxAndViolin === Bennett's instrumental duo SaxAndViolin, featuring Bennett on saxophone and his wife Rosemary Siemens on violin, released their debut album on Valentine's Day, 2020, entitled ''Can't Help Falling in Love (Instrumental Love Songs), Vol. 1'' featuring instrumental love songs that inspired their love story.<ref name="burnabynow.com 1.24071075">{{Cite web|title=Burnaby couple releases debut album for Valentine's Day|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/entertainment/burnaby-couple-releases-debut-album-for-valentine-s-day-1.24071075|access-date=July 10, 2020|website=Burnaby Now|date=February 7, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=February 13, 2020|first=Lori|last=Penner|title=Award-winning musician couple release love songs album for Valentine's Day|url=https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/award-winning-musician-couple-release-love-songs-album-for-valentines-day-2/wcm/a01a5a42-c01e-4c1e-a140-0de54c6972d3|access-date=July 10, 2020|website=The Kingston Whig-Standard|language=en-US}}</ref> The album charted No. 3 on the Canadian iTunes Pop Chart and their cover of Lauren Daigle's song "You Say" won a 2020 Covenant Award for Instrumental Song of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nominees|url=http://www.gmacanada.ca/nominees|access-date=July 10, 2020|website=GMA Canada|language=en-US|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016050023/http://www.gmacanada.ca/nominees|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SaxAndViolin Debuts at #3 on iTunes Canada Pop Chart|date=October 10, 2020 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/147770314@N08/50446645058/in/dateposted-public/|access-date=October 15, 2020}}</ref>
=== Leo Awards Musical Director === In 2017, the Leo Awards announced that Bennett would replace Hal Beckett as Musical Director for the Leo Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 25, 2018|title=The Leo Awards: B.C.'s Roaring Film & T.V. Celebration|url=https://blog.breakdownservices.com/the-leo-awards-b-c-s-roaring-film-t-v-celebration/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=Breakdown Blog|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420112149/https://blog.breakdownservices.com/the-leo-awards-b-c-s-roaring-film-t-v-celebration/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2017 Leo Awards Musical Director|url=http://www.leoawards.com/2017/music|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=The Leo Awards|archive-date=July 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721102216/http://www.leoawards.com/2017/music/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Each year, Bennett directs the live band for the Leo Awards show including the show's opening production and in-show music. Bennett is a Leo Award winner and a five-time nominee for his work as a composer.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 6, 2018|title=Local 145 Member Eli Bennett Wins Award Over His Father|url=https://internationalmusician.org/eli-bennett/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=International Musician}}</ref>
=== Instruments === Bennett has played a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone exclusively since 2007<ref>{{Cite web|title=Henri Selmer Paris Artists|url=https://centerstage.conn-selmer.com/artists/eli-bennett|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=Conn-Selmer}}</ref> along with D'Addario Woodwinds Royal reeds since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=D'Addario Woodwinds Artists|url=https://www.daddario.com/artists/woodwinds/eli_bennett/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=D'Addario Woodwinds}}</ref>
=== Publications === In 2012, Bennett created his own publishing company, Eli Bennett Publishing, and released his first transcription eBook entitled ''Chris Potter Plays Acapella Solo Standards.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chris Potter Plays Acapella Solo Standards {{!}} The Official Chris Potter eBook!|url=https://chrispotterebook.com/|access-date=July 9, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The eBook featured eleven solos over jazz standards performed by award-winning jazz saxophonist Chris Potter.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neff|first=Steve|title=Chris Potter Plays Acapella Solo Standards by Eli Bennett Review|url=https://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2012/03/chris-potter-plays-acapella-solo-standards-by-eli-bennett-review/|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Steve Neff Music Blog|date=March 27, 2012 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == On March 18, 2017, while on separate Canadian tours, Bennett proposed to his girlfriend, violinist Rosemary Siemens, by interrupting her concert in Gretna, Manitoba, by entering through the back of Buhler Hall, playing Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love" on his saxophone.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Read|first=Chris|date=March 20, 2017|title=Husband-to-be pops question to Manitoba violinist in show-stopping proposal|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rosemary-siemens-marriage-proposal-1.4032667|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref> Once on stage, Bennett got down on one knee and proposed to Siemens in front of the entire audience. She said yes, and the couple were wed later that year on August 20, 2017, in a public wedding ceremony in Plum Coulee, Manitoba.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 19, 2017|title=Show-stopping proposal turns into musical marriage as Manitoban set to get hitched in hometown|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/musical-marriage-plum-fest-1.4254352}}</ref> In September 2018, the couple welcomed their first son, Theodore Parker Bennett, into the world after keeping the pregnancy a secret. They announced the birth through a YouTube video featuring a song Siemens wrote and Bennett produced entitled "You and Me".<ref name="burnabynow.com 1.24071075" />
== Awards and nominations ==
* 2006 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award from the Ottawa International Jazz Festival * 2007 Yamaha Kando Award from MusicFest Canada * 2007 Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance from The Hnatyshyn Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance|url=https://www.rjhf.com/archives/DA_PastWinners/07_Bennett.html|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=The Hnatyshyn Foundation}}</ref> * 2008 Oscar Peterson Prize from Humber College<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oscar Peterson jazz winners reunite|url=http://humberetc.com/oscar-peterson-jazz-winners-reunite/|access-date=July 9, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711010454/http://humberetc.com/oscar-peterson-jazz-winners-reunite/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2009 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Canadian National Jazz Awards * 2010 Rising Star Award from the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival * 2012 Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award for Music as Emerging Artist<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mayor's Arts Award for Music|url=https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/music.aspx|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=vancouver.ca|language=en|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102174649/https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/music.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2012 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Documentary Program or Series (''Nash'', nominee) * 2013 Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal * 2013 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Short Drama (''Reset'', nominee) * 2013 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Short Drama (''Escape Act'', nominee) * 2014 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in an Animation Program or Series (''Remedy'', nominee) * 2015 SOCAN Foundation Award for Best Musical Score Non-Fiction (''Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas,'' Second prize) * 2015 SOCAN Foundation Award for Best Musical Score Fiction (''Jobless'', Second prize) * 2015 Julian Jazz Award for Best Jazz Album from CJSF 90.1 FM * 2015 TD Grand Jazz Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival (nominee) * 2016 Global Music Award for Jazz Album (Silver Medal) * 2016 Fraser Valley Music Award for Best Jazz Album (''Breakthrough'', winner)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fraser Valley Music Awards Announce 2016 Winners|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/2016_fraser_valley_music_awards_announced|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cleugh|first=Janis|date=July 19, 2016|title=Jazz award for Port Coquitlam saxophonist|work=Tri-City News|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/entertainment/jazz-award-for-port-coquitlam-saxophonist-1.2305199|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> * 2018 Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Documentary (''Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas'', winner) * 2018 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year (Five Alarm Funk, nominee) * 2020 Covenant Award for Instrumental Song of the Year (SaxAndViolin, ''You Say'', winner) * 2020 Canadian Digital Influencer Award (Entertainment category, nominee)
== Selected discography ==
=== As leader or co-leader ===
* 2014: ''Breakthrough'' * 2016: ''Breakthrough'' (re-release) * 2020: ''Can't Help Falling in Love (Instrumental Love Songs), Vol. 1'' with SaxAndViolin
=== As a sideman ===
* 2006: ''Five Alarm Funk'' – Five Alarm Funk * 2011: ''In Transit'' – Paul Morrison * 2012: ''Once Upon a Dream -'' Roy & Rosemary * 2015: ''Footsteps'' – Gray Matter * 2016: ''Eternally Grateful'' – Warren Dean Flandez * 2016: ''Plum Coulee, My Home'' – Rosemary Siemens & The Sweet Sound Revival * 2017: ''Sweat'' – Five Alarm Funk * 2018: ''Violet, Gold + Rose'' – David Ward * 2018: ''Suite for Hard Rubber Orchestra'' – Hard Rubber Orchestra
== References == <references />
== External links ==
* [https://elibennett.com/ Official website] * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/6402343-Eli-Bennett Eli Bennett discography] at Discogs * {{imdbname|2415298|Eli Bennett}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Eli}} Category:Canadian jazz saxophonists Category:Canadian male saxophonists Category:Jazz-funk saxophonists Category:Mainstream jazz saxophonists Category:21st-century Canadian saxophonists Category:Canadian male jazz musicians Category:Jazz tenor saxophonists Category:Canadian male film score composers Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians Category:Musicians from Vancouver Category:Canadian film score composers Category:Canadian television composers Category:Canadian male television composers