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…
Mosaic Records has re-released two more albums under its Mosaic Select Series featuring the works of trombonist Bennie Green and pianist Randy Weston.
After becoming a popular jukebox artist in the forties and fifties leading his own band, Green signed with Blue Note in 1958. Mosaic Select: Bennie Green comprises Green and Babs Gonzales compositions from Blue Note albums Back On The Scene, Soul Stirrin’, and Walkin’ & Talkin’. The album also includes musical reprises of Soul Stirrin’ tunes from Ike Quebec’s Congo Lament, on which Green played two of his standards.
Gene Ammons, Stanley Turrentine, Art Blakey, Billy Root, Sonny Clark, Elvin Jones, Charlie Rouse, Eddy Williams and Louis Hayes, among others, support Green on the digitally remastered album.
Mosaic Select: Randy Weston spans Weston’s compositions between 1957 and 1963.
His earlier, more traditional jazz albums during this period include Piano-A-La-Mode for Jubilee and Little Niles and Live At The Five Spot for United Artists. In 1960, Weston began to fuse his jazz with African music on albums like Uhuru Afrika (Roulette, 1960) and Highlife (Colpix, 1963). The reissue also includes compositions from a previously unissued 1960 Roulette album.
Soloists and rhythm players Johnny Griffin, Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Dorham, Cecil Payne, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, Clark Terry and Freddie Hubbard join Weston.
All recordings are available through Mosaic Records. For more information, go to www.mosaicrecords.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.
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