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 Concord Music Group released Tuesday the second part of its reissue series, Keepnews Collection, which spotlights classic albums originally produced by the legendary jazz producer Orrin Keepnews.
The collection, remastered in 24-bit from the original master tapes, spotlights pianist Bill Evans’ Everybody Digs Bill Evans (originally recorded on Riverside Records, 1958), trumpeter Chet Baker’s Chet (Riverside, 1958-1959), saxophonist Jimmy Heath Orchestra’s Really Big (Riverside, 1960), drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’ Caravan (Riverside, 1962) and vocalist Flora Purim’s Butterfly Dreams (Milestone Records, 1973).
In his written introduction to the series, Keepnews notes, “Each [album] is of special importance to me—some because of the initial impact they made, others because they have particular personal meaning or may present a performer whose value has not been fully appreciated.”
Each reissue includes the original liner notes, as well as new commentaries from Keepnews. In addition, all the discs, with the exception of Purim’s, feature bonus tracks.
For more information, visit concordmusicgroup.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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