Apr 2, 2024 12:59 PM
Saxophonist, Sonic Explorer Casey Benjamin Dies at 45
Casey Benjamin, the alto saxophonist, vocalist, keyboardist and producer who stamped his distinctive sounds on the…
Janus Jazz Aspen at Snowmass (JAS) has announced its 12th season of programming featuring a mix of jazz, rock, funk, blues, country, soul and world music performances and education programs throughout the summer.
Kicking off June 20-23, JAS will present Earth, Wind & Fire, Poncho Sanchez, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Robert Cray and Dr. John to name a few. JAS’ education programs will also be in full swing starting in July at the all scholarship JAS Academy – Summer Sessions; educators and performers include Artistic Director Christian McBride, Russell Malone, Benny Green and Jane Monheit. The complete JAS Labor Day line-up will be announced soon.
The JAS June festival, located in Snowmass Town Park and nestled in a pristine valley with a backdrop of the cascading Elk Mountain Range, opens June 20 with clarinetist Dr. Michael White will feature his quintet in a program titled “Jazz from the Soul of New Orleans. On June 21, Earth, Wind & Fire will share the bill with the soulful Latin Jazz sounds of Poncho Sanchez. Henry Butler & Cory Harris will be featured at Janus Music Club on the festival grounds.
On Saturday night, June 22, the festival presents an evening of classic “jazz from start to finish,” which will begin with a “Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald” featuring The Count Basie Orchestra with special guest vocalist Patti Austin. The Saturday program concludes with “Directions in Music,” a tribute to the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane featuring (pianist and composer) Herbie Hancock, (saxophonist) Michael Brecker and (trumpeter) Roy Hargrove.
On Sunday, June 23, the festival concludes with a hot evening triple bill of New Orleans, blues, soul and rock classics. Dr. John, the physician of voodoo funk, has repeatedly acknowledged his native Crescent City, through his legendary musical gumbo of blues, funk, soul and swamp rock. Following Dr. John is Robert Cray, a modern day purveyor of gritty blues-styled Southern soul. Closing the evening is John Hiatt and the Goners.
Afer the June festival, the JAS Academy Summer Sessions, July 22-29, will include Artistic Director Christian McBride on bass, Russell Malone on guitar, Benny Green on piano, Wallace Roney on trumpet and Program Director Loren Schoenberg on sax. The JASummerNights Gala will take place on Sunday July 28 at the Hotel Jerome, and feature the vocal sounds Jane Monheit, plus the sultry and swinging Allan Harris. The Gala evening will recreate The Stork Club, NYC 1950.
The Essentially Ellington Band Director Academy is an intensive five-day program offering high school band directors an opportunity to learn more about conducting and teaching the music of Duke Ellington and other big band composers. Band directors take courses in repertoire selection, rehearsal, techniques and teaching improvisation. The Academy, now in its third year is led by Jazz at Lincoln Center musicians and clinicians.
JAS will also host ” Saute & Swing ” this July as part of its annual JASummerNights Gala, an evening of private home dinner-concerts featuring three nationally recognized James Beard Award-winning chefs. Participating in this year1’s event are Mark Miller whose current restaurants include the Coyote Café in Santa Fe & Las Vegas and Red Sage in Washington, DC.; Michael Romano, who became Chef de Cuisine at La Caravelle in New York City then later joined Danny Meyer at New York1s popular Union Square Café, and; Kerry Heffernan, who received remarkable reviews for his work as Chef de Cuisine for Alfred Portale at One Fifth and who became Executive Chef at the Westbury Hotel’s Polo restaurant.
For more information, go to www.jazzaspen.com.
Benjamin possessed a fluid, round sound on the alto saxophone, and he was often most recognizable by the layers of electronic effects that he put onto the instrument.
Apr 2, 2024 12:59 PM
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