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…
Berklee College of Music has announced the lineup for the this year’s BeanTown Jazz Festival, taking place from Sept. 27–29 at various locations around Boston.
In its second year of producing the festival, Berklee will bring Grammy-winning superstars and cornerstones of the Boston jazz scene together on a number of stages in free and ticketed offerings at Symphony Hall, Scullers Jazz Club, the Beehive and outdoor stages along Columbus Avenue.
The Sept. 28 opening night concert is directed by Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein, and it is a benefit event for a scholarship fund bearing his wife’s name. It features a veritable “who’s who” of the jazz world, including Roy Haynes, Branford Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano, Lizz Wright, Geri Allen, Regina Carter, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin, Kenny Werner, Howard Alden, Jimmy Cobb, and Ray Drummond. The concert takes place at Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Aug. 15 at the Symphony Hall box office or online at bostonsymphonyhall.org.
The following day features an afternoon of free jazz around the city, capped off by an evening show at Scullers. For a full lineup, visit beantownjazz.org.
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.
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