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…
The Bad Plus will release its latest album, For All I Care (Heads Up) on Feb. 3, 2009, along with a limited-edition, 180-gram double-LP. The trio, composed of bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer David King, have included two bonus tracks on the double-LP—a cover of U2’s “New Year’s Day” and an original piece by Anderson, “You And I Is A Comfort Zone.”
The album marks the first Bad Plus recording to include a guest vocalist, alt-rock singer Wendy Lewis, as the fourth instrument in its sonic arsenal. In the midst of The Bad Plus’ characteristically unconventional approach, Lewis strove to avoid theatrics and let the lyrics and melodies speak for themselves.
“I’ve really kept it sort of simple and straightforward,” Lewis said. “I can do the vocal gymnastics, but for this project, I chose to just sing the songs. We’re all improvisers in our own way, but I’ve always been a fan of Frank Sinatra, because he just sings the song. There’s something about that approach to this record that just felt right. I just let the melodies be what they are. I didn’t have to mess with them to make them exciting.”
The set includes interpretations of pop/rock tracks including Kurt Cobain’s “Lithium,” Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” Yes’ “Long Distance Runaround” and the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love,” along with 20th century classical pieces by composers including Györgi Ligeti, Milton Babbitt and Igor Stravinsky.
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
Casey Benjamin, the alto saxophonist, vocalist, keyboardist and producer who stamped his distinctive sounds on the…
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