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…
Dave McMurray (left), Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane and Terri Lyne Carrington pay tribute to the late Geri Allen at the 2018 Detroit Jazz Festival.
(Photo: Tak Tokiwa/Detroit Jazz Festival)The Detroit Jazz Festival, which previously announced its move online and focus on local talent, today presented the lineup for Sept. 4-7.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our Detroit talent, our Detroit sound, to the global jazz community,” Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins said in a press release. “The lineup of Detroit jazz legacy artists, coupled with the up-and-coming generation of jazz revolutionaries will provide an exciting jazz journey through Detroit’s past, present and future.”
Among the acts set to appear are Pharoah Sanders, Robert Glasper, Robert Hurst, Rodney Whitaker, Steve Turre and Sister Strings. Joan Belgrave also will present The Marcus Belgrave Legacy Ensemble.
Performances are set to be broadcast live from the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. There won’t be live audiences, but the same lighting and sound tech at traditional festivals will be utilized, according to the release. Streams and broadcasts will be available on the festival’s website and social accounts, local Channel 22, on public radio and through the DetroitJazzFest LIVE! app. DB
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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