Jazz Reviews : Keyboardist Benoit in a Carefree Mood at the Greek

David Benoit must live in a different world. The keyboardist and his group played a lengthy set Saturday night at the Greek Theatre full of happy-go-lucky melodies and carefree solos that carried little of the edge we associate with modern times. Doesn’t this guy have any Angst in his life?

If he does, it isn’t reflected in his material. Tunes like “Sailing Through the City” and “Every Step of the Way” typically started with elegant introductions that soon moved into optimistic, major-key themes. There were no mistakes during the solos because no one was taking any chances. The emotions expressed in the songs were genuine; they just didn’t run very deep. And when the next number began, it often sounded suspiciously like the last.

It’s not as if Benoit doesn’t have the technique to get his point across. He displayed ability in abundance on a fast-played, untitled blues number that had him swinging up and down the keyboard in a persistent, if not witty, manner before supplying a hotbed of chords behind saxophonist Eric Marienthal’s sparking alto solo. But this kind of excitement was the exception rather than the rule.

Adding further gloss to the already glistening proceedings was the inclusion of the Warfield Avenue Strings, whose 12 pieces were orchestrated to track the melodies and add a heart-tugging shimmer here and there. Best addition to the proceedings was singer Jennifer Warnes, who used her warm, smooth voice to put a saintly touch to “Song of Bernadette.”

The opening act, flutist Tim Weisberg, was also hurt by simplistic material. To his credit, Weisberg, who has a light, airy tone, avoids blowing overtones or other novelties like humming into his instrument. But he limited his playing to short, melodic lines that gained detail only after he kicked in an electronic echo device.

Fittingly, Benoit brought Weisberg back to the stage for a final encore together entitled “Duet for Dorothy,” a piece that quoted freely from “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Isn’t it time these guys left Oz and got back to solid ground?